Ho Ho Ho (film)

Ho Ho Ho is a Romanian Christmas-themed family comedy film starring Romanian music and TV icon Ştefan Bănică, Jr.,[1] directed by Jesus del Cerro,[2] and produced by MediaPro Pictures[3] as the first Romanian comedy film about Christmas.[4][5]

Ho Ho Ho
Directed byJesus del Cerro
Produced byAlma Sarbu
Patricia Poienaru
Written byBogdan Mirica
StarringŞtefan Bănică, Jr.
Bogdan Iancu
Pavel Bartoș
Alina Chivulescu
Valentin Teodosiu
Costin Gabriel
Daniel Popescu
Ingrid Bisu
Music byJuan Carlos Cuello
CinematographyAdrian Silisteanu
Edited byOvidiu Vacaru
Production
company
Distributed byMediaPro Distribution
Release date
20 November 2009 (2009-11-20)
Running time
101 min.
CountryRomania
LanguageRomanian

Background

Filming took place over a 4 week period in June and July 2009, at the Băneasa Shopping City Mall in Bucharest and at MediaPro Studios in Buftea and in Bucharest.[4] Spanish director Jesus del Cerro also worked in Romania on the TV series One Step Ahead and on the television films The Countdown and The Countdown 2: No Escape.[6][7]

Plot

Horaţiu (Bogdan Iancu) is an 8-year-old boy who still believes in Santa Claus. As a Christmas gift, his mother (Alina Chivulescu) takes him to the mall to buy him a gift. What might otherwise have been a normal day becomes an adventure when Horatiu gets lost. He meets Ion (Ştefan Bănică, Jr.), a thief disguised as Santa Claus who is there to steal a diamond for Vandame (Valentin Teodosiu) and his gang of fake Santas. Out of character for Santa Claus, Ion is rude and doesn’t seem to like kids. However, the boy believes he is the real Santa and decides to stay with him despite Ion's attempts to abandon the boy. As the day goes on, the two enter a series of dangerous yet funny misadventures. By the end of the day they become great friends, both learning something from each other. And because it is Christmas and miracles do happen, everyone gets their wish.

Main characters

Ion (Santa Claus)

Ion is a different type of Santa. Although, at first, he desperately tries to get rid of the kid, he eventually grows fond of Horaţiu as the boy is the only one who finds something good in him. Moreover, the boy helps him rediscover the magic of Christmas and makes him realize how much he misses his son and wife, who live in Italy.

Horaţiu

Despite being only 8 years old, Horaţiu is extremely smart for his age: he speaks English, has a passion for origami and rewrites all the books his mother bought for him. He is clever and always manages to find a creative way out of difficult situations. Raised only by his mother, Horaţiu is very optimistic and keeps on trusting Ion whom he believes is the real Santa. At the end of the day, Horatiu discovers in Ion the friend he never had.

Carmen

She is a young, beautiful and intelligent woman who dedicated herself to raising Horaţiu. After noticing that Horatiu is missing, she does everything within her power to find him. When she needs help the most, fate brings Marin into her life. Even though her first impression of him isn’t one of the best, Carmen finds Marin to be a good man, a good friend and… more.

Marin

He is a mall bodyguard and the type of person that has seen too many B-rated action flicks. He falls head over heels for Carmen and wastes no effort in trying to help her find Horaţiu. By the end, Carmen gets to know his true personality and the two share a love story. Caring and big-hearted, Marin proves to have what it takes to be a father for Horatiu.

Partial cast
  • Ştefan Bănică, Jr. as Ion / Mos Craciun
  • Alina Chivulescu as Carmen
  • Bogdan Iancu as Horaţiu
  • Pavel Bartoș as Marin
  • Valentin Teodosiu as Vandame
  • Costin Gabriel as Calistrat
  • Daniel Popescu as Sămânţă
  • Iulia Lazăr as Gora
  • Raluca Aprodu as Irina
  • David Vasile as Ion's son
  • Cătălin Măruță as TV host

References
  1. Nicoleanu, Anca (8 June 2009). "Ştefan Bănică, în rol de Moş Crăciun, într-un film produs de fiica lui Adrian Sârbu" (in Romanian). cotidianul.ro. Retrieved 3 December 2009.
  2. "„Ho Ho Ho" ajunge pe ecrane" (in Romanian). Evenimentul Zilei. 17 November 2009. Retrieved 3 December 2009.
  3. ""Ho Ho Ho" se lanseaza de Mos Nicolae si pe DVD" (in Romanian). cinemapro.ro. 2 December 2009. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
  4. ""Ho Ho Ho", prima comedie românească despre Crăciun, are premiera de gală sâmbătă" (in Romanian). mediafax. 17 November 2009. Retrieved 3 December 2009.
  5. "Stefan Banica Jr. - un altfel de Mos Craciun, in filmul "Ho Ho Ho"" (in Romanian). ziaruldeiasi.ro. 9 June 2009. Retrieved 3 December 2009.
  6. Blaga, Iulia (10 June 2009). "Production: Ho-Ho-Ho filming at MediaPro Pictures". Film New Europe. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
  7. ""Ho Ho Ho" imbraca CinemaPRO in haine de sarbatoare" (in Romanian). cinemapro.ro. 19 November 2009. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
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