Conceived by Publicis Conseil, directed by Vladimir de Fontenay and produced by Iconoclast, this short film for Gustave Roussy, the leading cancer center in France, is a modern Christmas tale in which fiction and reality are deliberately intertwined. It recounts an unknown but true story: Santa Claus once had cancer… and recovered.
“Our agencies have always made Christmas films to sell products or services. This year, Santa Claus is defending the fight against cancer because he himself has been affected by the disease. We wanted to raise awareness with Gustave Roussy, but above all we wanted to convey a message of hope and say that he has been cured thanks to the donations received for research,” explained Marco Venturelli, CEO/CCO of Publicis Conseil.
The film, titled A True Story, takes us through Santa’s journey the year he was diagnosed with cancer, from the discovery of his illness to the various treatments he received at Gustave Roussy, as well as the unwavering support he received from his daughter and the medical staff until he went into remission.
Just like anyone who is affected, Santa Claus will go through moments of doubt, despair, and sorrow, but also of joy. As his illness deprived him of the attributes that makes him Santa Claus in everyone’s eyes–his long beard and white hair–he persisted, whatever the cost, in toiling in his workshop to ensure children’s Christmases while still undergoing heavy treatment. Thanks to advances in research and the support of Gustave Roussy, Santa is now cured and can resume his rounds and his work, bringing joy to
This highly emotional, cinematic film ends on a note of hope: “Cancer can be cured and now, more than ever, is the time to believe in it.” And it is donations that will indeed make the difference and make this possible, so let’s give to research.
