A new animated short film based on John Lennon and Yoko Ono's 1971 song, “Happy Christmas (War Is Over),” and their billboard campaign for peace, is set to premiere this fall. The film, titled “War Is Over!,” is executive produced by their son Sean Ono Lennon, who wanted to share his parents' message with a new generation.
The film tells the story of a young boy who dreams of a world without war, inspired by the true events of the Christmas truce of 1914, when British and German soldiers laid down their arms and played soccer together. The film features the original song by John and Yoko, as well as a new version recorded by Sean and other artists.
Sean says he had the idea for the film for a long time but struggled to find the right way to present it. He says he felt that a music video would be too trivial, and that the song needed a narrative. He approached director Peter Jackson, who had worked on The Beatles' Get Back documentary and their new song, "Now and Then," for some advice. Jackson agreed to direct the film, and they collaborated on the script.
Jackson says he was moved by Sean's passion for the project, and the timeliness of the message. He says he hoped that the war in Ukraine, which had started around the time they began working on the film, would be over by the time they finished it. But instead, he says, the world has seen more violence and conflict, such as the war in Gaza.
Sean says he is saddened by the fact that his parents' message of peace and love is still relevant today. He says he believes in resolving problems peacefully, even though it sounds naive. He says he is not criticizing anyone, but expressing his personal belief.
The film has a brief run in theaters this fall to qualify for Oscar contention. Producers are currently shopping for a distributor, so no word on when it will be released to the public.
In a related note, limited-edition acetates of the song have been donated to 50 charities, non-profits and care organizations for them to raise money for peace and love this holiday season. Each record has a note from Sean Ono Lennon, saying: "Happy Holidays. To raise the spirit of Peace and Love this December, here is one of only 50 Limited-Edition acetates that have been hand-cut at Abbey Road. It’s yours – to sell, auction, raise money to help your charity or to fund your Xmas party – to GIVE PEACE A CHANCE and REMEMBER LOVE." Each record also includes a machine-printed signature from Yoko Ono Lennon.
[Source: Classic Hits Today]