KLAUS (2019) Netflix Review

When Jesper distinguishes himself as the postal academy’s worst student, he is stationed on a frozen island above the Arctic Circle, where the feuding locals hardly exchange words let alone letters. Jesper is about to give up when he finds an ally in local teacher Alva, and discovers Klaus, a mysterious carpenter who lives alone in a cabin full of handmade toys. These unlikely friendships return laughter to Smeerensburg, forging a new legacy of generous neighbors, magical lore and stockings hung by the chimney with care.

RELEASE DATE: November 15, 2019
STUDIO: Netflix
DIRECTOR: Sergio Pablos
MPAA RATING:
SCREENWRITERS: Sergio Pablos, Zach Lewis, Jim Mahoney
STARRING: J.K. Simmons, Jason Schwartzman, Rashida Jones, Joan Cusack, Norm Macdonald, Will Sasso
GENRE: Animation, Family, Comedy

It goes without saying. Netflix's new holiday original Klaus takes extreme liberties with the origin story of Santa Claus. Saint Nicholas was not a frightening hermit woodsman inspired by an ambitious postman. Then again, we don't have a lot of room to complain. Society's interpretation of the non-magical monk is no less absurd.

Therefore, we must consider what the deeper meaning is behind this ambitious work of fiction.

The story follows an entitled, selfish postman named Jesper in his ambitious campaign to reach an impossible postage quota and return home to his privileged life. In the midst of his hopeless career, he stumbles upon an incredible opportunity. He doesn't appreciate it, but he eventually comes to value it above everything else in his life.

He works in a town consumed with contention. A "Romeo and Juliet" level feud split a town right down the middle. Because of this, the townsfolk lose sight of what's important. They fail to see that their lifelong feud is destroying the welfare of their children, especially education. Jesper finds the schoolhouse in ruins and its teacher resorts to selling fish just to get by. If he has any hope of processing letters, then he must begin with teaching the children to read and write.

With education, the children begin to think for themselves, tell their own stories, and make friends. The future of the town is saved thanks to a teacher, a postman, and a hermit loosely based on St. Nicholas. Education saves a town driven by hatred and intolerance. Klaus is more than a light-hearted holiday cartoon. It serves as a reminder that we need to relinquish bias. We should build bridges and form our own opinions. A good way to start is to put down the phones and pick up a book.