Santa Camp (2022)

Being who we are, we've probably watched more documentaries about professional Santas than most people (such as Becoming Santa, I Am Santa Claus), and we even highlighted a book profiling a variety of professional Santas (We Are Santa). When we started up this documentary, we weren't sure how much of it would cover familiar ground, but the perspective here was specific and unique, and overall, I was impressed.

Part of the film documents the particularly wacky vibe of the titular Santa Camp, an annual weekend retreat in New England for professional and aspiring Saint Nicks to come together and socialize and learn tricks of the trade. This setting provides many artistic and surreal shots and you can tell why the idea tickled the fancy of Australian filmmaker Nick Sweeney, who told The Guardian that he loves "documenting subcultures." 

Of course, that article leads with the real core of the film: the founder of Santa Camp, Santa Dan, (along with strong support from another prominent Santa who passed away during filming and more tentative support from others) is actively trying to encourage more diversity in their jolly ranks. The movie primarily follows three newcomers to Santa Camp: Santa Chris, who is Black, Santa Fin, a young man with spina bifida, and Santa Levi, who is trans.

We learn about their lives, families, and motivations, and all three have reasons to attend Santa Camp and also real reasons to be concerned that it won't be a good experience. We were worried that the film would soften the reality of the situation in favor of some kind of heartwarming message, but the filmmakers actually seemed determined to show the nuances - both the positive and negative - of everyone's experience. 

Santa Chris is determined to show up for his daughter and his community after he received anonymous hate from a neighbor for his Black Santa yard decoration. He is the only Santa of color attending camp. The older Santas mostly seem to mean well (at least the ones who speak on camera), but there are definitely people attending who have trouble interacting with Chris and others who comment about Santa "traditionally" being white. I think it was Santa Dan who shut some others down with a comment about Saint Nicholas being from Turkey. 

Santa Fin is obsessed with all things Santa, and dreams of riding in a Christmas Parade. His mom, who attends camp alongside him, is open about her concerns that the old white men who become Santas won't be patient with Fin, who communicates primarily with an iPad and sign language, but has a strong "Ho, Ho, Ho" to offer. Although we see plenty of activities going on at camp that Fin wouldn't be able to take part in, he does seem to have positive interactions with many other attendees. 

Santa Levi and his wife are nervous as well about the old, white, male environment they're walking into. There was an awkward panel about the relationship between Mrs. Claus and Santa where it wasn't 100% clear whether the panelists were making actual sexist comments intended as such, or if it was intended as friendly teasing banter that the Mrs. Claus on the panel (being a long-standing member of the community and a bit of a firebrand) was in on. I felt much better about what we saw of a class about Mrs. Claus. Levi's partner speaks up about her wish to be "Dr. Claus" (she has a Ph.D., after all), and it spurs a whole discussion among the women there about festive pantsuits and the variety of ways that character could be a fuller partner in Christmas events, etc.

After camp ends, the movie continues to follow Chris, Fin, Levi, and a few others through the next Christmas. Santa Chris gets a lot of support from his neighborhood and despite some people's doubts, attends a successful community event. Santa Fin gets his chance to be in a parade. Santa Levi and Dr. Claus hold a meet and greet through a progressive church, but their event has to be moved due to threats, and frightening protestors end up showing up at the new location. (Big old content warning for a revolting, hateful, "Christian" woman and a scene where the filmmaker confronts some domestic terrorists. Props to him for mentioning to a Proud Boy that Santa isn't in the Bible, which the terrorist scoffs at. I felt tense and sick all through watching this section, but nothing violent happens.) 

Not everyone thinks that it's a worthy thing to have diversity in Santa, but the film lets the joyful kids visiting Santa Chris and Trans Santa speak for themselves.