Autsch, du Fröhliche (2000)

When nine-year-old Nina-Nena learns that her parents are planning to separate and that her father is moving to America for work, she asks Santa Claus to bring her feuding parents back together. Although she no longer believes in Santa, she is very surprised when the man in the red coat suddenly lands on her roof. Nina-Nena is even more surprised when agents from the Military Counterintelligence Service’s (MAD) Alien Special Unit storm into the house. Terrified, she flees with Santa, while Major Kohlmann is determined to prove by any means that the story about Santa is just a hoax. During their escape, Nina-Nena and Santa arrive at a company Christmas party, where everyone is eagerly waiting for the Santa they ordered and mistakes the real one for him. When they realize their mistake, Santa has to hurry to get away from the police, whom the event organizer has called. Major Kohlmann discovers that he now has a child to chase as well. But that does not make things any easier. Using his magical powers, Santa gets himself and Nina-Nena to safety and continues fleeing with the girl on a snowmobile, at times flying through the air as well. When Major Kohlmann pursues them by helicopter, the fugitives hide in a container being used as shelter by a group of homeless people. Nina-Nena is now finally convinced that Santa really exists and is already dreaming that her parents will get back together. But Santa explains that he cannot force people to love one another. He hopes, though, that worry for their daughter will lead her parents to search for her together, bringing a reconciliation within reach. The plan seems to work: when Nina-Nena’s mother discovers that her daughter is not in her bed, she calls her husband in a panic. But the police are also informed, and Major Kohlmann assumes that Santa has kidnapped the girl. Nina-Nena’s parents do indeed reconcile before long. They anxiously await their daughter’s return after Santa calls them. Major Kohlmann hopes to catch Santa when he “hands over” the child, but Santa sends Nina-Nena to her parents’ home alone. Kohlmann is disappointed and sees one last chance to apprehend Santa: at the airport, Santa still has to stop Nina-Nena’s father from flying to America. He succeeds, but collapses from all the stress. As Santa lies dying, both Nina-Nena and Kohlmann admit to themselves that they had always believed in him, really. When everyone comes to their senses again, Santa has vanished without a trace. Nina-Nena happily goes home with her parents, and is twice as happy when she sees Santa and his sleigh passing across the sky.