IMDb 6.6 2000 HD

Silent Night: The Story of the First Christmas

Silent Night: The Story of the First Christmas

2000
Animation
50 min NR Australia
7 / 10
6.6 IMDB

Abib, a naughty irresponsible donkey, is purchased by Joseph to transport his wife, Mary, to Bethlehem for the birth of their baby. On the journey, Abib finds himself…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Ryszard Słapczyński
Starring
Jonathan Biggins / Ric Herbert / Joanna Moore / Matt Wills

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

charming gentle heartwarming unexceptional functional light-hearted predictable sweet earnest forgettable amusing

Reviews

G
Genevieve Leclerc
May 12, 2026
2.0 / 5
2.0

Despite a novel concept—a donkey as the unlikely hero of the first Christmas—'Silent Night: The Story of the First Christmas' falters in its execution. The performances are competent but lack the spark needed to elevate the material, and…

C
Charles Ainsworth
May 12, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

Here is a Christmas picture that dares to find its heart in the most unexpected of places: a mischievous donkey named Abib. The film's strength lies in its willingness to embrace this unconventional focus, allowing for moments of…

I
Isabelle Dubois
May 12, 2026
2.5 / 5
2.5

The premise of a naughty donkey playing a pivotal role in the Nativity is certainly intriguing, but 'Silent Night: The Story of the First Christmas' doesn't quite fulfil its potential. The performances are solid, with the cast attempting…

M
Marcus Thorne
May 12, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

'Silent Night: The Story of the First Christmas' offers a surprisingly charming perspective, driven by the antics of Abib, a donkey with a penchant for mischief. The performances, particularly from the voice cast, manage to capture a genuine…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 12, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

This festive offering attempts to inject a touch of levity into the familiar Nativity narrative by placing a recalcitrant donkey, Abib, at its core. Jonathan Biggins and his fellow cast members imbue the journey with a certain earnestness,…

FAQs

Absolutely. By centring the narrative on Abib, a 'naughty irresponsible donkey,' the film promises a fresh and likely humorous angle on the well-trodden path to Bethlehem. This focus shifts attention from the divine pronouncements to the earthly struggles and unexpected contributions of ordinary creatures. It suggests a storytelling approach that finds significance in the mundane, making the 'greatest story ever told' feel more relatable and perhaps even charming.