A Christmas Tale (French: Un conte de Noël) is a 2008 French Christmas comedy-drama film co-written and directed by Arnaud Desplechin, starring Catherine Deneuve, Jean-Paul Roussillon, Mathieu Amalric, Anne Consigny, Melvil Poupaud, Emmanuelle Devos and Chiara Mastroianni.

It tells the story of a family with strained relationships which gathers at the parents' home for Christmas, having just learned that their mother has leukemia.

Junon held her family together through tough times, but her willpower made her children resentful.

She remains handsome, and though her husband is obese and elderly, he retains clarity, acceptance, tolerance, and unconditional love for his family.

A deceased sibling, Joseph, is the presence around which everyone's psyches revolve: he died of leukemia at age six, after his parents tried to save him by having another child who might be a bone marrow donor.

Just before Christmas, Junon learns she has acute myeloid leukemia and will soon die unless she undergoes a bone marrow transplant.

Henri convinces him that he is not his father, confirmed by the test, and reassures Paul that it is not a failing to be afraid.

They made no effort to hide it, waking up together in bed and greeting her children as they come bearing tea.

Henri donates his bone marrow to Junon, but she announces her conviction that her body will reject the transplant.

Elizabeth speculates that Junon will live, while Henri flips a coin in the hospital in front of his mother, but does not reveal the result.