The Gift of the Magi" is a short story by O.Henry first published in 1905. The story tells of a young husband, Jim, and his wife, Della, and how they deal with the challenge of buying secret Christmas gifts for each other with very little money. 

The Gift of the Magi - short story

A short film adaptation by Ismene Daskarolis

Director's statement

"I first became acquainted with O’Henry's “The Gift of the Magi” when I was a child as a bedtime story and I have always felt I saw it in a much more serious light than it was generally seen. [...] I had always wanted to create a short film out of the story but had in mind something much more faithful to the times and surroundings of the book. [...]

However seeing the outcome of the Greek crisis today, I realized that there were few stories more relevant about its reality than this one, so I decided to make a more personal version, remaining as faithful as possible to the book but introducing it into the world of the global crisis, something that gave the characters a deeper motive and a stronger personality. For me Della is the symbol of a person who goes into extreme lengths to preserve whatever hope she’s left with. [...]

The story is for me still very relative today because it continues to deal with current issues, but more importantly it proceeds to give a solution. In times of austerity where we naturally tend to be less giving, love, courage and selflessness will always be what caries us through. As O’Henry states in his short finale, the Magi are indeed each and every one of us.

(source: http://www.altcineaction.com/films/the-gift-of-the-magi/)