The Festive Season story
On Christmas Eve, attorney John visits the home of his estranged siblings Celia and Charlie. Charlie wants to kill Celia, whom he believes murdered his wife, but Celia protests her innocence and is determined to care for Charlie regardless of his feelings. John leaves after making them promise not to hurt each other. John has been doing this every Christmas Eve since Charlie's wife's death 20 years ago. Directed by: Arthur Hiller. Story by: Stanley Ellin, James Cavanaugh.
15 total · 12 major · 3 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| brother and brother | major | John tried to get his brother Charlie to drop a 20 year old grudge he'd been holding against their sister. |
| brother and sister | major | John was mediating a dispute between his sister Celia and their recluse brother Charlie. |
| controlling family member | major | Charlie complained that both his mother and Celia had been domineering and bossed him around. |
| coping with the death of a spouse | major | Charlie was devastated after his beloved wife Jesse died. |
| family dispute | major | The story is about an estranged brother and sister who'd been cooped up in the same house for 20 years. |
| hatred | major | Charlie was consumed with hatred for Celia. |
| obsession | major | Charlie was so obsessed with his hatred for Celia and desire for vengeance, that he locked himself up and never saw anyone and didn't live a normal life. |
| parricide | major | We are left to ponder the distinct possibility that Celia was behind the death of her brother's wife Julia. |
| placing blame | major | Charlie blamed Celia for the death of his beloved wife. |
| reclusiveness | major | Charlie was living as a recluse, shut up in his room. |