Rodan’s First Christmas is about having a perfect Christmas. It is something that people spend a lot of time, money and emotional effort trying to achieve, and even if it doesn’t fail miserably they’re often too physically and mentally exhausted to enjoy it. That wasn’t going to happen to Marion, but it was a close thing. Her efforts towards perfection were just the sort that would lead to disappointment if Kristoph wasn’t around to look after her.

Christmas morning with and eight month old child is a funny experience, as I can confirm, even if it was a long time ago. The parents are more excited than the child, who has no idea what’s going on. And eight month olds don’t always know how to open presents, or are more interested than the box than the expensive toy. And actually, I would recommend to any parent to do exactly what Marion did – go to the open market and buy cheap, bright toys not designer labels or things that are advertised on TV. A baby doesn’t care about those things. Of course, Marion indulged with the doll that was bigger than Rodan. Take it from me, there is nothing creepier than a lifelike doll that is bigger than the child. It’s hard to say why, exactly, but it is.

Mostly I wanted to capture the idea of the little family unit, Kristoph, Marion and Rodan, separate from the trappings of luxury, with wrapping paper stuck in the chandelier, a perfect little family Christmas just like anyone with children should have.