An Alpine Holiday, written by Joanne Lee and directed by Lucie Leblanc, is exactly the kind of cozy, low‑stakes emotional trek Gen Xers pretend they’re too cynical for… right up until they’re 20 minutes in, wrapped in a blanket, wondering whether they should’ve taken that semester abroad after all.
The setup is pure comfort‑movie DNA: estranged sisters Faith (Ashley Williams) and Kelly (Laci J. Mailey) head to the French Alps to fulfill their grandmother’s final wish. It’s the sort of premise that would’ve lived on a well‑worn VHS tape in your parents’ entertainment center — and honestly, that
Faith and Kelly’s dynamic is peak Gen X sibling energy: bruised, sarcastic, and built on decades of unresolved nonsense they’ve both been too busy (or too stubborn) to unpack. Williams and Mailey play off each other with that familiar “I love you, but also please stop talking” rhythm that only sisters can pull off. Their scenes together feel lived‑in, like rediscovering an old mixtape you forgot you made but instantly remember every track on.
And the scenery? Leblanc shoots the Alpine villages, Mont Blanc, and Chamonix like she’s personally trying to lure you into a midlife relocation. The production actually split filming between France and Bulgaria, with Sofia standing in for some of the Alpine interiors and the Mont Blanc region giving the movie its postcard‑ready exteriors. It’s the kind of backdrop that makes you question every life choice that led you to not currently be sipping hot chocolate in a chalet.
Enter Julien Samani as Frederic, the rugged mountaineer guide who looks like he wandered off the set of a 1997 cologne commercial and never looked back. Kelly’s slow‑burn romance with him unfolds with the gentle inevitability of a mixtape’s B‑side: softer, steadier, and surprisingly swoony. Samani plays Frederic with a quiet warmth that balances Kelly’s uncertainty, giving the film its romantic heartbeat without hijacking the sister storyline.
As for where to watch it: the film is a Hallmark Media release, so it lives in the usual Hallmark ecosystem — typically airing on the Hallmark Channel and then landing on Hallmark Movies Now. It’s one of those “if you know, you know” situations where the movie will show up exactly where every other Hallmark holiday comfort‑watch shows up.
By the time the sisters complete their grandmother’s Alpine pilgrimage, An Alpine Holiday has delivered exactly what it promises: scenic escapism, emotional reconnection, and a romance that doesn’t require fireworks — just two adults actually showing up. It’s the cinematic equivalent of a warm blanket and a cup of coffee, tailor‑made for Gen X viewers who claim they’re above sincerity but absolutely are not.
MPAA Rating: TV-G.
Runtime: 120 mins
Director: Lucie Guest
Writer: Blaine Chiappetta
Cast: Ashley Williams; Laci J Mailey; Julien Marlon Samani
Genre: Holiday Romance
Tagline:
Memorable Movie Quote: "Of course we're going. It's Grandma's final wish."
Distributor: Hallmark Channel
Official Site:
Release Date: November 29, 2025
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
Synopsis: Faith and Kelly, estranged sisters, reunite for Christmas in the French Alps, reminiscing their grandfather's first trip. They cherish sisterhood and romance with their guide, Frederic.
