“Your Honor, every one of these letters is addressed to Santa Claus. The Post Office has delivered them. Therefore, the Post Office Department, a branch of the federal government, recognizes this man Kris Kringle to be the one and only Santa Claus.
I love that this movie crafts a narrative in a way that affirms the idea of real magic in a way that feels plausible. It’s not about Santa Claus proving he exists or has magical powers. It’s not about him inspiring people to believe in him, though he does that.
Miracle on 34th Street is about how a corrupt system will twist its own internal logic around to allow for the possibility of Santa Claus because they can profit.
That’s what makes this movie for me. He’s not charming the cold hearts of a bunch of selfish people into changing their ways. We’re not all gathered round the fireplace with carols and cocoa at the end.
It’s an easier ask to believe. Whether you own a department store, have political goals, or just want to clear out some undeliverable mail taking up space, if you’ll just say this man is Santa, there’s something in it for you.
It’s a great trick: Showing a believable world much like our own to make it seem that believing in the impossible isn’t foolish at all.
This Builds Character 
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