This Retailer’s Ad Flies in the Face of Heartwarming Christmas Tropes

Bol.com tells the story of a boy who bonds with a ball—until he gets the gift he really wants

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Can you even call it a Christmas ad if it hasn’t tried to tug on your heartstrings? In every festive season there are always a few brands that stray from the crowd of tearjerkers, and this year one of those anomalies is a story of conditional friendship and rejection.

Dutch online retailer Bol.com begins its tale with a little boy who is longing for the perfect gift from Sinterklaas, the Dutch equivalent of Santa Claus. He wants a doll, but when he unwraps his presents on Christmas morning, he finds a soccer ball under the tree instead.

He

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