At the end of H.C. Andersen’s classic story, The Little Match Girl freezes to death. Pol has recreated the story for Save the Children Norway. It is even more heartbreaking than the original. Yes, you will need tissues nearby and much kudos must go to the director, Marius Holst at Fantefilm production.
In the new version, The Little Match Girl is a homeless girl in a big European city. Instead of seeing her grandmother in her fever dreams, she sees herself inside a warm home surrounded by a loving family on Christmas eve. The scene is accompanied by Radiohead’s Fake Plastic Trees, sung by Phoebe Bridges.
But Pol gave the audience the opportunity to change the ending. The film is live on both TV and digital platforms, and when a donation has been made, the donor receives a new ending.
The Pol team explained, “Unfortunately, the story is still as relevant today as it was 150 years ago when it was written by H.C Andersen. All around the world children are freezing, some of them won’t see summer of 2021, and many don’t have a holiday to look forward to.”
The goal of the campaign is to warm 100,000 children before Christmas. One week after launch, Save the Children Norway has already warmed 20,000 children with 4 weeks to go, a drastic increase in conversion rate compared to last year’s campaign.
“We are so happy that the idea seems to be working, and we are humble and honoured to have been given the opportunity to create an idea that can actually make a big difference for thousands of children around the world. Even though we are in the middle of a pandemic, and most of us are having a bad time right now, it is important to remember that there will always be someone who is doing even worse. The Christmas spirit is to give, and this year it’s just as important as ever,” Pol commented.
Credits
Advertising Agency: POL
Copywriter: Rikke Sofie Jacobsen
Art Directors: Anette Bellika Finnanger & Sara Marie Hødnebø
Client Manager: Petter Bryde
Production Manager: Shirin Marlene Pakzamir
Designers: Pia Lystad & Andrea Engum
Motion: Andreas Rustad
Production Company: Fantefilm
Director: Marius Holst
Producers: Tor Markus Iden & Hugo Hagemann Føsker
DOP: Lasse Ulvedal Tolbøll
Music Supervisor: Goran Obad @ Ohlogy
Music: Radiohead (Phoebe Bridges)
Line Producer: Razvan Cliza @ Avanpost
Editing: Thomas Trælnes
Sound Design: Tormod Ringnes
Post Production: Uhørt
