Nativity!

Nativity! (2009) is a British Christmas comedy you can watch online on iFILM. Directed by Debbie Isitt, the film follows Paul Maddens — played by Martin Freeman — a primary school teacher and former failed actor who gets roped into directing the annual nativity play.

To impress a rival teacher, Paul invents a story: his ex-girlfriend works in Hollywood and is flying over to turn the production into a real film. She isn't. But word spreads fast, the kids believe every word, and Paul's relentlessly enthusiastic teaching assistant Mr. Poppy — played by Marc Wootton — makes every rehearsal more chaotic than the last. Ashley Jensen and Pam Ferris round out the cast.

Isitt filmed with real children who were not given scripts — they were told the story and left to react. That decision shows. The scenes have a texture that polished family films rarely manage. Stream Nativity! online on iFILM.