The Holdovers (2023), directed by Alexander Payne and written by David Hemingson, is a tenderly crafted holiday dramedy that channels the spirit of classic 1970s cinema in both tone and texture. Set during a snow-blanketed Christmas break at a New England boarding school, it follows three unlikely companions—a bitter teacher, a grieving cook, and a troubled student—who, through shared solitude, slowly form a surrogate family.
At its heart is Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti), a socially awkward, sharp-tongued classics professor whose sarcasm masks deep loneliness. Giamatti delivers one of his finest performances, balancing acerbic wit with fragile vulnerability. Tasked with supervising students left behind over the holidays, Paul finds himself stuck with just one: Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa, in a breakout role), a restless, emotionally bruised teenager whose defiance gradually gives way to an aching need for connection.
Providing the film’s emotional anchor is Mary Lamb (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), the school’s head cook mourning the loss of her son in Vietnam. Randolph’s performance is a revelation—measured, soulful, and imbued with quiet dignity—earning her a well-deserved Academy Award. Her presence brings humor, warmth, and heartbreaking depth, softening the sharp edges of Paul and Angus while revealing her own silent strength.
Payne’s direction is restrained yet deeply evocative. He leans into a 70s-inspired aesthetic—grainy textures, muted colors, and deliberate pacing—recalling filmmakers like Hal Ashby and Elaine May. This nostalgic style grounds the story in a world that feels authentic and lived-in, without slipping into sentimentality.
📌 Why it resonates: The Holdovers is less about grand holiday cheer and more about the quiet, painful beauty of human connection. It’s a story of grief, loneliness, and unexpected bonds forged in confinement—funny in its awkwardness, heartbreaking in its honesty, and moving in its humanity. By the end, its warmth feels earned, not manufactured.
⭐ A film for anyone drawn to character-driven storytelling, rich dialogue, and the subtle alchemy of three broken people finding comfort—and a fragile hope—in each other.
