Ole Jakobsen

There are real elves in the attic of the old Mayor's House. The elves do everything they can to ensure that the children Mads and Mette have a real Christmas in the Mayor's House. In the midst of the Christmas rush, they make sugar and flour disappear so that no one can bake Christmas cookies—neither the baker nor the citizens of Gammelby. The mayor is unhappy about the strange events and can only think about whether the good ship "Hope," which is supposed to bring new supplies, has been wrecked. There has been no news from the ship for several months, and the big question is whether "Hope" will return to Gammelby before Christmas. If not, there will be no Christmas for Mads and Mette and all the citizens of Gammelby...

A man grows up in very modest circumstances in the early years of the 20th century, but his diligence, intelligence and willingness to endure hardship helps him to become a leading brain surgeon. A success story on the face of it, but a story about a man – who is none other than the director's father – a man of powerful emotions. The film explores the nature and origin of the guilt that repeatedly deprived him of happiness.