The Christmas Martian

Details

This special limited edition spot gloss and embossed slipcover (designed by Robert Sammelin) is limited to 2,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.

From arthouse to Canuxploitation, Canadian International Pictures (CIP) is devoted to resurrecting vital, distinctive, and overlooked triumphs of Canadian cinema. This label is focused on the country’s original cinematic boom years – spanning the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s – occasionally venturing past that period (and the country’s borders) to highlight the films of Canada’s most inspired actors and filmmakers. Vinegar Syndrome’s sister company, OCN Distribution, is thrilled to be representing CIP's brand new line of home video releases! 

"Easily the most insane example of Canadian children's cinema ever conceived." - Canuxploitation.com

While out looking for a Christmas tree one winter day, siblings François (François Gosselin) and Katou (Catherine Leduc) encounter a bizarrely dressed entity (Dirty Money’s Marcel Sabourin) who emanates bubbles and shoplifts from a convenience store. With Katou convinced this “man” is really a Martian, the children follow his green trail all the way to a flying saucer. After confirming his alien identity, they form an instant bond and pool their efforts to fix the Martian’s damaged spaceship, so he can return to his home planet. Meanwhile, the police join forces with a vigilante mob to track down this mysterious visitor and put his antics to an end.

A viable contender for weirdest Canadian movie of all time, The Christmas Martian takes family-friendly holiday entertainment to imaginatively inspired new places. With a uniquely carefree and child-like approach, director Bernard Gosselin (making his one and only fiction feature) paved the way for producer Rock Demers’ celebrated Tales for All series and arguably even E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Available here in its original French version and the more outlandish English dub, The Christmas Martian Is a misunderstood (and underseen) holiday gift that keeps on giving.

directed by: Bernard Gosselin
starring: Catherine Leduc, François Gosselin, Marcel Sabourin, Guy L'Ecuyer, Roland Chenail, Paul Hébert
1971 / 61 min / 1.66:1 / French DTS-HD MA 1.0

Additional info:

• Region A Blu-ray
• Scanned and restored in 2K from the 35mm original camera negative by Éléphant - mémoire du cinéma québécois
• Complete English and French versions of the film
• Audio commentary featuring Paul Corupe of Canuxploitation.com and film historian Jason Pichonsky
• Trailers for All (1971-1994, 32 min.) – Theatrical trailers for The Christmas Martian and the first 15 films in the Tales for All series
• Trailers for All commentary featuring Corupe and Pichonsky
• New audio interview with actor Marcel Sabourin (2023, 13 min.)
• The Joy of Winter (1962, 15 min.) – Documentary short directed by Gosselin and Martian producer Jean Dansereau
• The Beach (1978, 4 min.) – Animated short based on a story by Martian screenwriter Roch Carrier
• French theatrical trailer for The Christmas Martian
• Booklet featuring a new interview with NFB curator Marc St-Pierre and an essay on composer Jacques Perron by Fantasia programmer Marc Lamothe
• Reversible cover artwork
• English SDH subtitles