Christmas Jars is based on the New York Times best-selling novel by Jason Wright. Both the original novel and the movie have spawned an ever-expanding kindness movement, telling the true story of how millions of dollars in spare change has been collected and distributed to individuals in need.
Wright started the tradition of the Christmas jar with his wife and young children back in 2004. When they were looking for a new family tradition that would make the holidays extra special, they decided to place all their spare change in a jar throughout the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Then, they would select someone – an individual or family – who needed some encouragement. That first jar contained about $88. On Christmas Eve, they crept up on the chosen family’s porch, placed their jar of coins by the door, rang the doorbell, and then ran to hide behind some bushes.
This festive season’s uplifting feature film stars Jeni Ross as Hope, an aspiring reporter who has had her fair share of tragedy in life, Abandoned at birth, she’s grieving the recent death of her adopted mother when her apartment is burglarised of all her possessions.
While reporting the burglary to the police, Hope discovers a jar full of money, labelled “Christmas Jar”.
Shocked and grateful for this act of kindness, Hope discovers that people all over her hometown have been receiving Christmas Jars for years during times of need. The jars are always anonymous and always contain different amounts.
In this heart-warming Christmas classic, Hope goes undercover to discover the secret behind the Christmas Jars, putting into motion a series of events that will change her life, and her community, forever.
The eRecord has a double-pass of Christmas Jars to giveaway to one lucky reader. To enter, simply tell us what you would “gift in a jar” to a loved one by emailing therecord@therecord.com.au with “Movie Competition” in the subject line. Entries close at 6pm on Wednesday 9 December. The winner will be contacted directly via email.
When Wright’s book was first released in 2005, and had not yet achieved New York Times bestseller status, he found himself downsized at work and a bit financially strapped. It was at that moment when someone anonymously left Wright and his family their very own Christmas jar. The tradition had gone full circle.
There are many testimonies like this, of people who have received an anonymous Christmas jar just when they needed it. It may not seem like much, but as you will read from the testimonies, a Christmas jar can be miraculous to the one needing a miracle, or a reminder that they are seen and loved.
‘Christmas Jars’ is rated PG – not recommended for viewing by people under the age of 15 without guidance from parents, teachers, or guardians.