Released in UK cinemas on January 19, The Holdovers, set in a fictional New England all-boys boarding school called Barton Academy in Massachusetts in the early 1970s, has all the makings of a modern classic as director Alexander Payne demonstrates his knack of telling stories that revolve around the theme of complex human relationships.
Rising star Dominic Sessa plays Angus Tully, a frustrated outcast student who is left behind to board with the other students, aptly named “The Holdovers“ (students who aren’t able to return home to be with their families during the Christmas break for reasons out of their control). Paul Giamatti plays a discontented ancient classics teacher named Mr. Hunham, who smells of fish due to a medical condition called trimethylaminuria.
Subsequently, the headmaster of the school punished Mr. Hunham for failing a student whose father is a major contributor to the school. As a result, he is assigned to watch over the remaining pupils over the Christmas break.
Angus is one of the pupils stuck ‘holding over’ at the school after he receives a disheartening phone call from his mother, who informs him that she is going on a honeymoon with his stepdad, selfishly leaving Angus behind.
Perfect casting
The chemistry between Giamatti and Sessa is the film’s heart and soul, undeniably.
We find out that Mr. Hunham frequently drinks to deal with his academic shortcomings. Later in the film, in his last year at Harvard, he was expelled after a fellow student falsely accused him of plagiarism.
Moreover, we learn that Angus visits a therapist and takes antidepressants to cope with his dad’s admission to a psychiatric hospital because of his mental health struggles and violent episodes.
Their hostility towards one another is evident in the beginning of the film, but as they are forced to spend more time together, Mr. Hunham and Angus come to understand one another’s circumstances and form a friendship.
Da ‘Vine Joy Randolph, who plays Mary, the school’s resident head cook, gives another standout performance. Mary is grieving the death of her son, who tragically died while serving in the Vietnam War.
It’s also later revealed that Mary’s husband was killed in a freak accident at work, leaving her a widow as well.
Randolph is excellent. She portrays Mary as a broken woman with a tough exterior, in spite of her hardships. She has the ability to portray the character with such humility.
Both Giamatti and Randolph’s performances have drawn a lot of praise early on in award season, and rightly so, with the pair both winning Golden Gobles for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress.
Despite all of its darker moments, the film also has a lot of humorous scenes strewn throughout, as there is one particular chase scene that results in a trip to the hospital that made me laugh hysterically.
The cinematograpghy
The film was shot digitally, although you would think that it was shot on film because it has an old-school look to it.
The cinematography is grainy, with plenty of gorgeous wide-angle shots of snow falling on buildings, shots inside the church, and other scenes filmed in real locations such as restaurants, a bowling alley, and a hotel, all of which give the film authenticity. It’s certainly an ode to the comedy-dramas of the 1970s.
Great soundtrack
The soundtrack is also worth noting. It features the pleasant folk melodies of Yusuf/Cat Stevens, the laidback vibe of Khruangbin, and Andy Willams, whose voice evokes immense Christmas spirit.
It almost sounds as if a needle is being placed on a record player throughout the film, adding to the vintage aesthetic.
Furthermore, it would be easy to write off The Holdovers as a pompous intellectual comedy-drama about a group of priveleged teenagers who are fortunate enough to attend an elite boarding school, but David Hemingson’s screenplay offers far more depth and complexity than that. Instead, it’s a character study of multiple individuals, and you will be able to identify with at least one of them.
So if you’re in need of a sweet and charming slice-of-life film to watch this January, I encourage you to watch The Holdovers. It will simultaneously make you cry and fill you with joy.
Featured Image Credit: Universal Pictures