Retailer Carrefour doesn't shy away from the pandemic in its holiday spot this year. It opens with a young girl writing a letter to Santa. "This year has been a little bit strange," she says and then goes on to express her concern over his well-being this particular season.

As she ponders over whether Santa, the cake and presents are still going to be part of the holidays this year, we see scenes of Carrefour employees wearing masks while hard at work manning the registers, packing goods, delivering in vans, working in warehouses and preparing food throughout the crisis. 

The girl leaves her letter at the doorstep and we see a Carrefour delivery guy picking it up—which seems appropriate since he's the one who's been toiling away. Yet there's a magical twist too before the spot ends with the words "We are not Santa. But we are doing our best."

The spot, by Publicis Conseil, highlights the hard work of the French supermarket giant's employees during 2020. It's set to the music track "Planetarium" from "La La Land" and was directed by Rudi Rosenberg via Insurrection.

Set to be broadcast in in Belgium, Spain, Italy, Poland, Romania and Argentina as well as in France, it's the first group film from Carrefour running across different markets, and some aspects will be adapted, for example the scene with the Christmas dessert, for local viewers.