Every year, it seems as though retailers want us to start thinking about Christmas earlier and earlier. Here in Toronto, it’s not unusual to see shops with their Christmas decorations up before October has ended. With such commercialism commonplace, and the pressures of the season climbing as we all get older, it’s no wonder that the words “Bah Humbug” become an easier out.

In the face of such feelings of dwindling spirit, Jack Sanderson had an idea. It was time to take the reindeer by the horns. He would reclaim the true nature of giving that Christmas is supposed to be about by becoming Santa…and the story of him learning how to be Father Christmas makes for one beautiful film.

After being so charmed by this film, I decided that I really needed to meet the big man himself. Walking into the room, he wasn’t hard to spot: big guy, white beard, red shirt…a look that is referred to as “Santa Casual”. Listening to all of the Santas within Jack’s film, many of them refer to the work they do as Kris Kringle as a calling. So was it a calling for Jack? Not entirely.

“My mother passed away six years ago, and she was a Christmas fanatic” he tells me. “I wasn’t looking forward to a Christmas by myself since it’s the time of year that I miss her most. So I decided that the best way to get through Christmas was to throw myself into becoming Santa Claus, and try to find some Christmas spirit”.

As BECOMING SANTA illustrates, it takes more than just donning a fake beard, jingling some bells, and asking children if they’ve been naughty or nice. Santa Claus is a totem for children: a symbol of generosity, understanding, and hope. He’s an icon – a persona that for children is akin to seeing The Beatles play Shea Stadium. In summing up what Santa Claus represents, Jack points to lessons taught by Jennifer Andrews in western Canada.

“It’s the belief in the goodness of mankind. It’s the belief that we can be good to each other, and then making that belief real”. Again, more than just jingling bells and donning a fake beard. Thankfully for many of the men we meet within BECOMING SANTA, the understanding of this generous type of living has become part of the very marrow of who they are. It’s a true joy for them, and carries over into their everyday lives.

Backed by some interesting history lessons about Ol’ Saint Nick, all of this discussion of the meaning of the season certainly does inspire. But in setting out to be a Santa Claus, things aren’t all milk and cookies. While Jack has a good rapport with children, and a natural impishness that makes him a suitable candidate, there’s still a sizeable amount of logistics involved with becoming Santa. Navigating those obstacles gives the film much of its whimsy.

For instance, just to get a passing grade at Santa School (Yes Virginia, there is a Santa School), a potential Santa has to jump through a few hoops. Some are as simple as learning how to make a paper snowflake. On the trickier front is rewiring one’s brain to always say “children” instead of “kids”. Just like any area of study it takes a particular aptitude, a jolly disposition, and a bit of patience. Things to keep in mind next time you run into a mall Santa you think doesn’t measure up – odds are he was playing hooky during Santa School.

Happily, Jack is a natural and what begins as a solution to just surviving the holidays begins to garner wonderful results as he embodies what so many grow up believing about Santa Claus. It is something that has evolved both with the passage of time, and from country to country around the world. Watching the film unfold, it seems like it is in fact the very thing that Jack felt was missing with the passing of his parents.

What Jack embodies – and what Santa Claus represents – is secret giving. It’s not only being generous when you can sign your name to the tag, or make a big deal about what you’ve done…but just giving to fulfill a wish, and doing it without any fanfare. It is selflessness personified, and it’s something that’s becoming increasingly rare for all of us. If I have a Christmas wish, it’s that more people remember that and make it a way of life.

Perhaps, if we can all do that more often, we’ll all find our own ways of becoming Santa.

BECOMING SANTA plays Hot Docs once more – Sunday May 8th, 9:15pm at The Lightbox