Your Christmas or Mine? On the red carpet with Asa Butterfield, Cora Kirk, Daniel Mays and Alex Jennings
Giving the 20-year-old Love Actually a run for its money as a new festival favourite is the quintessentially British Christmas romcom Your Christmas or Mine?, pairing Sex Education‘s Asa Butterfield with newcomer Cora Kirk as James and Hayley, written by Tom Parry in his feature debut and directed by Jim O’Hanlon. The two uni lovebirds are heading home for the holidays, but, saddened by the prospect of being apart, they decide to jump on a train to each other’s houses, not realising they are in fact going in opposite directions. And so ensues a comical swap, Hayley’s bustling Northern family all fun and games and garish Christmas jumpers crowded round the dinner table, James’s an austere affair where fun goes to die in a huge stately home. To add another layer of awkwardness, secrets each were keeping from the other are rudely revealed.
It’s all, of course, awfully silly but nonetheless incredibly cheering, and the action and humour are kept at a simmer by the fantastic cast of household names including Daniel Mays as Hayley’s father, coupled once again with Angela Griffin (as they were brilliantly in White Lines), while James’s family are the ultimate posh Brits in the form of Alex Jennings and Harriet Walters (Butterfield apparently had to “posh-up” his accent to keep up with them). Running jokes involve a gilet and an ice cream van selling meat.
But the movie’s inspired trick is also to balance its levity with genuinely affecting moments, bringing to the fore the fact that Christmas time can often be difficult for those who have lost loved ones, the expectation of happiness and endless smiles a pin-prick into the cloud of grief that can settle over such proceedings, perhaps never fully clearing. It also gives a nod to the full spectrum of British society in all its diversity, with a central message that it doesn’t really matter what your Christmas looks like or the budget you have to celebrate it – who you are with is what really matters, traditional family or found.
The Upcoming hit the red carpet for the film’s premiere at the Curzon Mayfair to hear from the cast and creatives. Butterfield told us about the appeal of being in a Christmas romcom and the fun of being on set.
Kirk stopped to chat with us about her character and what it was like working alongside Jennings and Walters.
Mays explained why he wanted to jump on board with the festive film and the joy of being reunited with his on-screen wife, Griffin.
Jennings told us about working with Kirk and Butterfield having to keep up with his uber-posh accent.
Writer Parry shared the initial inspiration behind the story, the importance of balancing levity and poignance, and seeing his dream cast bring the script to life.
Director O’Hanlon gave us some insight into the making of the film.
Natalie Gumede, who plays Aunt Kaye, also shared highlights of being on set.
Sarah Bradbury
Your Christmas or Mine? is released on Amazon Prime Video on 2nd December 2022.
Watch the trailer for Your Christmas or Mine? here:
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