The Legend of the Christmas Witch 2018

Paola's daytime life as a schoolteacher

Paola works as a schoolteacher in an Italian town by day, guiding her students with care while guarding a centuries-old secret. Each year on January 6 she becomes the Befana at the stroke of midnight, a duty she must conceal from the world. Her ordinary routine and the hidden role she plays shape the choices she makes in coming nights.

Midnight transformation into the Befana

At midnight, Paola transforms into the Befana and flies through the night to deliver gifts and surprises. A dog chewing the Rolodex she uses to track children compromises her records and delays one crucial delivery. The damaged Rolodex seeds Giovanni's lifelong grudge against her.

Giovanni's grievance grows

Giovanni Rovasio blames the Befana for his misfortunes, including his parents' divorce, after the late delivery. He carries a bitter memory of that night into adulthood. This resentment foreshadows the later rise of Mr. Johnny.

Twenty-five years later: Giovanni becomes Mr. Johnny

In the years that follow, Giovanni becomes the villainous Mr. Johnny, intent on controlling the toy-delivery operation. He kidnaps Paola to seize her powers and the children's wishes network. Riccardo, a student from Paola's class, witnesses the kidnapping.

Riccardo and classmates investigate Paola's cellar

Riccardo, along with five classmates, investigates Paola's storage cellar for clues about her disappearance. They quickly realize Paola's Befana identity is real, hidden behind a gentle teacher's façade. This discovery sets them on a rescue mission.

The children are trapped and a knife halts the trap

Mr. Johnny's men corner the children and push them toward a trash compactor. Riccardo drops his father's Swiss Army knife into the gears, jamming the machine and saving the children from being crushed. The narrow escape deepens their resolve to defeat Johnny.

Paola is bound to a Christmas tree and the fire begins

Mr. Johnny ties Paola to a Christmas tree and lights the surrounding gifts as kindling, hoping to burn away her power. The flames threaten to destroy her, but the moment the clock strikes midnight triggers her full Befana transformation. The fire scene marks the turning point where her magic is confirmed once more.

The Befana breaks free and takes flight; chase ensues

With the midnight power rekindled, Paola breaks her bonds and takes to the sky on her broom. Mr. Johnny pursues her on a jet-propelled hoverboard, setting off a dangerous pursuit through the toy factory. The chase ends with the Befana being trapped in a protective bubble by Johnny.

The children attempt a rescue but are captured

The children attempt to reach the factory to rescue Paola, but Johnny's men capture them before they can intervene. Paola agrees to surrender the treasured letters containing children's gift wishes, hoping to guide the search to the mountain hideout. The group prepares to move the letters to safety.

Giacomo arrives, discovers the secret, and reorients the rescue

Giacomo arrives at Paola's home seeking answers, finds her missing, and discovers her Befana identity in the storage cellar. His owl companion guides him toward the factory, and he joins the effort to free the children. The rescue shifts toward a broader plan to reach the mountain and recover the letters.

The journey to the mountain to recover the letters

Paola, Giacomo, and the children head toward the mountain where the letters are hidden, hoping to reclaim the wishes and thwart Johnny's scheme. They face obstacles, but the mission reinforces their unity and determination. The letters become a beacon guiding their next move.

Final confrontation atop the mountains

In a climactic battle, Johnny fights Paola and her companions on the mountainside. During the struggle, Johnny and Paola topple from a cliff, and the fate of the town hangs in the balance. The group witnesses the dramatic fall and prepares for the consequences.