The Christmas Card

The Christmas Card

Year: 2006

Runtime: 84 mins

Language: English

Director: Stephen Bridgewater

TV MovieDramaRomanceMoving relationship storiesTouching and sentimental family stories

Sergeant Cody Cullen, serving in Afghanistan, is moved by a homemade Christmas card. After his discharge he travels to the scenic Nevada City, California, where the Spelman family invites him into their home. There, he meets Faith, the card’s sender, and unexpectedly falls in love, finding warmth and a new beginning.

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Timeline & Setting – The Christmas Card (2006)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Christmas Card (2006). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Early 2000s

The narrative moves between the ongoing Afghanistan conflict and a Christmas season in a northern California town. It centers on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, moments of choice between love, family, and duty. The setting uses a contemporary backdrop rather than a historical era, grounding the romance and sacrifice in a real-time period.

Location

Nevada City, California, Afghanistan

Nevada City is a small, historic town in California that provides the intimate, Christmas-season backdrop for Faith's family. The film contrasts this close-knit community with the distant war in Afghanistan, emphasizing the pull of home and the warmth of familiar places. Key locations—the luncheonette, church steps, Luke's logging yard, and the nearby lake where the bench sits—anchor the story's themes of memory and belonging.

❄️ Holiday 🏡 Small Town 🕊️ Family

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 19:34

Main Characters – The Christmas Card (2006)

Meet the key characters of The Christmas Card (2006), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Cody Cullen (John Newton)

A U.S. Army Sergeant who carries Faith's Christmas card as a beacon of hope. He is shaped by a father lost in Vietnam and the distance of war, yet remains hopeful about returning home where love awaits. He is resilient, protective, and capable of making personal sacrifices for the woman he loves.

🎖️ Soldier ❤️ Love 🕊️ Sacrifice

Faith Spelman (Alice Evans)

Faith is a hometown sweetheart torn between her love for Cody and her fiancé Paul. She values family and community, and her choices center on staying connected to her roots while navigating a difficult emotional crossroads. Her warmth and faith in community drive the story toward a hopeful resolution.

💖 Love 🏡 Family 🙏 Faith

Luke Spelman (Ed Asner)

Faith's father, a rugged yet warm patriarch who runs the local logging business. He mentors Cody, offers practical wisdom, and embodies the protective, generous family head who anchors the town's values. His guidance helps shape the decision-making and sense of belonging for the family.

👨‍👦 Father 🪵 Provider 🕊️ Wisdom

Paul (Ben Weber)

Faith's fiancé who travels and represents a potential future away from Nevada City. He is practical and ambitious, initially pushing for a life outside of Faith's hometown. His choice to marry Faith becomes a test of his true commitment and the strength of their bond.

💼 Fiancé 🕊️ Decision 🏃‍♂️ Ambition

Rosie Spelman (Lois Nettleton)

Faith's mother, a steady and supportive presence in the family. She embodies warmth and resilience, helping to keep the family unit cohesive during the emotional upheaval. Her care reinforces the film's emphasis on familial bonds.

👩‍👧‍👦 Family 🏡 Support 💬 Wisdom

Jonesy (Nick Ballard)

A local character who contributes to the town's sense of community and normalcy. His presence helps flesh out the everyday life of Nevada City and the social fabric surrounding Faith and Cody.

🗺️ Local 🗣️ Social 🧭 Community

Older Man (Gerald F. Gough)

A veteran elder who represents memory and continuity within the town. His presence at key moments underscores the film's themes of sacrifice, time, and the passing of wisdom to younger generations.

🧓 Veteran 🕯️ Memory 🕊️ Guidance

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 19:34

Major Themes – The Christmas Card (2006)

Explore the central themes of The Christmas Card (2006), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

❤️ Love and Sacrifice

Cody and Faith's relationship is tested by distance and competing commitments. Cody's decision to leave and Faith's choice to marry Paul illustrate love's complexity and the cost of staying true to others. The story frames sacrifice as an act that can still lead to healing and reunion.

🏡 Family and Home

The boondocks setting and Faith's close-knit family anchor the film in the importance of belonging. Luke's warmth and support draw Cody into the family circle, while Faith's ties to her hometown pull her toward a life that keeps them connected. Home becomes a spiritual harbor that guides characters through conflict.

🕊️ Memory and Healing

The Christmas cards, the memorial, and the bench mark moments that help the characters cope with loss and grief. The film uses memory to heal old wounds and provide a path for forgiveness. The reunion at the memorial becomes a symbolic closure that reconciles past sacrifices with present love.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 19:34

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The Christmas Card Summary

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The Christmas Card Summary

The Christmas Card Timeline

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The Christmas Card Timeline

The Christmas Card Spoiler-Free Summary

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The Christmas Card Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Christmas Card

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