I really like watching the Hallmark Channel films. They're gentle, the people are pleasant, the stories are interesting and end on a happy note. It's a peaceful diversion from the pressures of real life. While they tend to be somewhat formulaic, every once in a while I catch a real gem. Such is "Love Always, Santa," a 2016 offering starring Marguerite Moreau.
I haven't seen her in many films. I first saw her in "The Vampire Lestat," in which she plays a junior researcher for an occult organization who gets a little too close to her work. She has a gift for playing characters with a vein of sadness undergirding their personalities. Well, she does this superbly in "Love Always, Santa," in which she plays a widow with a daughter just this side of her teenage years who owns a little bistro and keeps life going, all the while mourning the loss of her husband.
When I find a film with a characteristic that makes it stand out for me, I like to buy the DVD. I've been collecting such films for about 15 years or so, and have an eclectic mix. I wanted this movie. Unfortunately, the Hallmark Channel is
notoriously stingy with their releases. No DVD available. Well, by now I was used to it. I added it to my wish list of films as-yet unreleased.
Several months ago, when I was still on Facebook, I ran across Ms. Moreau's Facebook account. I have rarely done this; but I was so taken with her performance in this film that I wrote her a short fan note; and I was pleasantly surprised to get a thank you.
These days, most of my free money goes toward my transition -- doctor visits, tests, makeup and clothes -- so I don't buy or shop for DVDs the way I used to. But, a few weeks ago, I had a few minutes to kill and it occurred to me that I hadn't checked my list of non-releases in a while; so, I logged onto Amazon and started down the list. When I got to this one, I unexpectedly got a hit. "Love Always, Santa" was out in a Region 4 release! There were none available; but at least it existed.
I've bought a few DVDs from Region 4 before, when they weren't available in Region 1 releases or were available there at a reduced cost. I made a beeline to
Amazon.com.au and searched for the title. It popped up -- and, with it, the dreaded "This item cannot be shipped to the US" message. (sigh) Several years ago, this never happened. Then, the marketers must have gotten wise to the many owners of "region-free" DVD players and dropped the hammer, because it now happens with disgusting frequency.
I've bought pirated DVDs before, when the real thing wasn't available and I wanted the movie badly. Sometimes, a legitimate version would come out later, and I'd replace the pirated copy. I still own some pirates, which I bought years ago and which I'm now guessing will probably never come out in licensed editions. But when there's a licensed edition available, somewhere in the world, I go for the real thing.
So I went to eBay; and, sure enough, someone in New Zealand had 3 brand new copies for sale. Shortly thereafter, they had 2; and my purchase arrived today.
Yep, despite the best efforts of the Hallmark Channel to deny me this little gem, I got one anyway.
Take that, Hallmark Channel!
