Why “Catch Me If You Can” is a Christmas Movie
Catch Me If You Can, directed by Steven Spielberg, holds a unique position as a late-career triumph for the renowned filmmaker. While it may not be immediately associated with Christmas movies like Home Alone or Elf, it deserves to be recognized as one of the most affecting films for the holiday season. In this analysis, we will explore the reasons why Catch Me If You Can can be considered a Christmas movie, exploring how the holiday setting enhances the film’s themes and emotional impact.
Setting the Stage: Exploring Christmas Motifs
Before we dive into the specific scenes, it’s important to understand the significance of Christmas as a motif throughout the film. Spielberg has long explored themes of broken families and the breakdown of the traditional nuclear family in his works. Catch Me If You Can aligns with this tradition as it explores the emotional journey of Frank William Abagnale Jr., brilliantly portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio, as he navigates his parents’ divorce and his own experiences of impersonation and fraud.
The Power of Christmas Scenes
While the film doesn’t revolve solely around Christmas, key scenes set during the holiday season offer valuable insights into Frank’s relationships with both his father and FBI agent Carl Hanratty, played by Tom Hanks.
- Scene 1: Abagnale Family Unity
- Scene 2: Loneliness on Christmas Eve
- Scene 3: Shattered Dreams of Reconciliation
- Scene 4: Emotional Climax on Christmas Eve
- Scene 5: Finding Redemption and Father Figures
Approximately eleven minutes into the film, we witness a heartwarming scene that captures the Abagnale family’s happiness before their divorce. This moment, set during Christmas, portrays the family’s togetherness and reinforces the traditional idea of families coming together peacefully during the holiday season.
Around the hour mark, we find ourselves back in Christmas Eve, where Frank, now engaged and longing for stability, chooses to contact Hanratty instead of his father. This decision reveals the deep loneliness and the extent of his broken family, even on a night traditionally associated with joy and togetherness.
Thirty minutes later, on the same Christmas Eve, Frank meets his father at a bar to invite him and his mother to his wedding. However, his mother’s remarriage to the man she cheated with signifies the irreversible rupture within the Abagnale family. This scene starkly contrasts the earlier moment of family unity, subverting the expectation of togetherness during the holiday season.
The two-hour mark brings us to the emotional climax of the film, where Frank, on a plane ride back to the United States, learns of his father’s death from Hanratty. Distraught, he escapes from the plane and seeks solace at his mother’s house on Christmas Eve. This poignant moment, accompanied by Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song,” signifies Frank’s realization that his mother has moved on, magnifying his sense of loss and highlighting the brokenness of his family.
In the film’s epilogue, Frank and Hanratty find themselves working together to combat bank fraud for the FBI. Hanratty becomes a mentor figure to Frank, filling the void left by his own absent father. These scenes underscore the importance of finding redemption and supportive father figures, reinforcing the film’s overarching themes.
The Importance of Christmas in Catch Me If You Can
By intertwining the aesthetics and ideas associated with Christmas throughout the movie, Spielberg and screenwriter Jeff Nathanson amplify the impact of Catch Me If You Can. The holiday setting serves as a central motif, allowing for the exploration of broken families and the longing for connection during a time traditionally associated with togetherness.
Catch Me If You Can, with its compelling story and powerful performances, deserves to be recognized alongside beloved holiday classics like It’s a Wonderful Life, Home Alone, and yes, even Die Hard. As time goes on and discussions unfold, it is our hope that Catch Me If You Can garners the recognition it deserves as one of the best Christmas movies ever made.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Catch Me If You Can based on a true story?
Yes, Catch Me If You Can is based on the true story of Frank William Abagnale Jr., who successfully impersonated a pilot, doctor, and lawyer before the age of twenty.
2. What is the significance of the Christmas setting in the film?
The Christmas setting in Catch Me If You Can enhances the film’s themes, particularly the breakdown of the traditional nuclear family and the longing for familial connection during the holiday season.
3. How does Spielberg explore broken families in the film?
Spielberg has consistently explored the theme of broken families throughout his career. In Catch Me If You Can, he delves into the impact of divorce on Frank’s life, exploring his relationships with his parents and the yearning for a father figure.
4. Why is Catch Me If You Can considered a Christmas movie?
Catch Me If You Can is considered a Christmas movie due to its use of Christmas motifs, scenes set during the holiday season, and the exploration of themes related to family, togetherness, and redemption.