The claim that Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life" is the best Christmas film ever is not a controversial one — it's been voted as such many times — but I still know far too many people who haven't seen it.

It's simply unacceptable that some of you have gone your whole lives without experiencing the heartbreak and joy of watching the 1946 classic — so I'm here to make my case for why, if you only see one Christmas movie this year, it should be this one.

What it's about

The film begins with its protagonist, George Bailey, contemplating his suicide on a snowy bridge. Through a guardian angel named Clarence — who has been assigned George's case in order to earn his wings — we see flashbacks of George's life, in which he repeatedly saves others from misfortune or hardship, and continually misses out on opportunities due to plain bad luck or sacrificing them for others.

Clarence is tasked with helping George — who has, after years of strain and disappointment, reached the end of his tether — realize why his life has value, so he shows him what the world would look like if he'd never been born.

Without spelling out the entire plot, George is shown the many ways his community and the people closest to him would be considerably worse-off without him, and, eventually, our lovable main character realizes how very much he wants to stay alive. Think "A Christmas Carol," but reversed.

[Image: YouTube]

Why it's great

The character of George is selfless, big-hearted and sincerely believes that looking out for your neighbor is just as important as taking care of yourself. He embodies goodness, and that's why it's so heartbreaking to watch him suffer time and time again — and so deeply touching to later see him realize how loved he is. Sure, he's a flawed man, but a sympathetic one — who wouldn't flip out a little after having their hopes and dreams repeatedly crushed?

The film's small, fictional town of Bedford Falls reflects the world we all live in: there's struggle, there's injustice and there are good people just trying to get by. Its villain, the miserly, avaricious business owner Potter, represents the capitalist greed that inflicts misery and suffering on the unfortunate majority of us (those who aren't born into or blessed with enormous wealth).

At a time when so many are struggling to make ends meet, when politicians are sowing — and benefiting from — division, when untold suffering is being inflicted upon the most innocent, we would all do well to reflect on the message "It's a Wonderful Life" emphasizes: what we do for each other is how we make our lives meaningful, and is the only mark we leave that really matters.

"It's a Wonderful Life" isn't just the best Christmas movie of all time; it's one of the greatest films ever made. (Try not to cry at George's little brother calling him "the richest man in town," I dare you.)

"Its a Wonderful Life" isn't an argument that George is a morally superior man, just that he's a moral man, surrounded by other moral people, and moral people try to take care of each other. The great kindness paid to George at the end of "It's a Wonderful Life" suffuses every frame that came before that moment. It's baked in.

[Emily St. James via Vox]

[Image: YouTube]

TL;DR

One of the cool things about watching It’s a Wonderful Life every year is picking up new scenes to cry at every time

— Max (@EPM106) December 25, 2023

The reason IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE is the best Christmas movie is because 90% of it is the sadness/melancholy we feel the entire season and the last 10% is the saccharine/sentimental aspect we all secretly yearn for

— Andrew Woods (@JimJarmuschHair) December 24, 2023

ayn rand once called it’s a wonderful life “communist propaganda” and that’s how i know it’s the best christmas movie

— bailey moon (@Baileymoon15) December 10, 2023

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[Main image: YouTube]