Kevin Fair’s ‘We Need a Little Christmas’ is part of Hallmark Movies & Mysteries ‘Miracles of Christmas’ series. This beautiful holiday film follows Julie, a single mother who moves to a new home with her son, Gavin, after her husband dies. She is now running their architectural design practice on her own.
As Julie and Gavin prepare for the family’s first Christmas since the tragedy, she fights to connect with her child and move on with her life. Julie rapidly makes an unexpected connection with her elderly neighbor, Irene, who lives alone.
The inaugural Miracles of Christmas film from Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, “We Need a Little Christmas,” will air on Saturday, October 22, at 10 p.m. Eastern/9 p.m. Central. The film stars Erica Durance, Lynn Whitfield, and Patrick Sabongui.
Bereavement, love, and friendship are all shown positively in the film. The film’s tone is bright and colorful, with nearly all scenes set against a snowy backdrop adorned with Christmas ornaments. Aside from that, the film has a rustic vibe to it, which begs the question of where it was shot. Let us look into it!
We Need a Little Christmas Plot
Irene (Whitfield) is a lively old woman who had been living alone for nearly a decade before Julie (Durance) moved in next door with her little son Gavin (Azriel Dalman, “Moonfall”). Julie lost her husband and business partner a year ago, and she is now juggling her new role as the company’s sole owner, being a single mother to a heartbroken child, and preparing for her first Christmas without her spouse.
Irene, who is widowed and no longer works, spends her days volunteering, shoveling her own driveway, and being occupied. Julie, who is overworked and stressed up about the holidays, sends Gavin to a Christmas day camp, where he forms an unexpected bond with one of the caretakers, Irene.
Julie and Irene soon began to relate their stories: both widowed, one with a grown grandchild she raised who is now a military doctor, and the other with a young child anxious to make this Christmas special. While Irene assists Julie in balancing her personal and professional lives, Julie organizes a Christmas surprise for Irene in the hopes that she will reciprocate.
We Need a Little Christmas Filming Locations
‘We Need a Little Christmas’ was shot entirely in British Columbia’s southern interior, namely near Kelowna. Three weeks of filming are said to have taken place between May and June 2022. The city’s vast vistas and nice weather in the westernmost region of the Great White North set the tone for the eccentric Christmas film. Let’s take a look at each location in the film now.
Kelowna, British Columbia
The backdrop for ‘We Need a Little Christmas’ was Kelowna, which is located in the magnificent Okanagan Valley. It has it all: beautiful mountains, calm blue waters, and rocky beaches. It’s fascinating to see how the city’s refreshing environment translates into the film’s nice Christmas style.
Erica Durance, the story’s leading lady, had a fantastic time being a part of it. She shared her delight after reading the script in an interview with MediaVillage. The film’s examination of diverse sorts of love and relationships that are rarely seen drew her in.
“I thought it was all really realistic, with so many different connections and exchanges that were all so varied and so great,” she remarked. “I just felt like there was something for everyone that came to see it.”
Aside from that, the actress added that she has been admiring co-star Lynn Whitfield’s work and is completely taken with it. “In my first scene with her, I was quite starstruck,” she acknowledged to the aforementioned source.
It was difficult since I frequently forgot my lines and became lost in her eyes. She is the world’s most gorgeous woman. When you’re starstruck, you give people their space, but she reached out with excellent discussion and suggestions.”
Erica commended Azriel Dalman, who plays her son, and characterized him as a “100-year-old man in a youthful body.” She thanked him for his tolerance during filming scenes with her and claimed he even helped her with a lengthy monologue.
In the film, their characters interact in an unexpected way, with Julie wanting to reconnect with Gavin while he struggles to cope with the loss of his father. This dynamic, along with several others, is crucial to the tale and is accurately and realistically described.
We Need a Little Christmas Cast
Julie is played by Erica Durance in this holiday film. She is most recognized for her performances on the TV programs “Smallville,” “Supergirl,” and “Saving Hope.” You might recognize her from previous Hallmark movies like ‘Color My World with Love’ and ‘North to Home.’
Lynn Whitfield, a well-known actress, plays Julie’s sweet neighbor Irene. Lynn has been in the business since the 1980s, and her credits include ‘Vacation Friends,’ ‘Heartbeat,’ ‘Greenleaf,’ and ‘The Josephine Baker Story,’ for which she was nominated for an Emmy.
Patrick Sabongui, who plays Peter, is well-known for television dramas such as “The Flash” and “Homeland.” Gavin, Julie’s son, is played by Azriel Dalman. In addition to ‘Coyote Creek Christmas,’ the young actor can be seen in Lifetime’s ‘Soccer Mom Madam.’
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