An Unexpected Gem: Why “The Holdovers” Is a Must-Watch Christmas Movie
When it comes to Christmas films, the cinematic landscape is full of predictable clichés. However, “The Holdovers” emerges a witty, deeply human drama that shattered my expectations. Set against the backdrop of a New England boarding school in the 70s, the film is a masterful meditation on human connection.
Director Alexander Payne crafts a narrative that stands out from typical Christmas film tropes, delivering a deeply nuanced exploration of loneliness, personal growth, and unexpected connections. The film is a must-watch because it challenges expectations, offering a heartfelt cinematic experience that goes beyond the typical Christmas movie conventions.
The film’s central strength lies in its refusal to rely on simplistic character archetypes, with three exceptional performances that elevate the narrative. Paul Giamatti’s character, the disliked teacher Paul Hunham, initially presents as a stern educator with sardonic wit. However, as the story unfolds, we see layers of vulnerability beneath this exterior. Paul Hunham is not simply a caricature of a bitter teacher, but a complex individual shaped by personal disappointments, intellectual passion, and a deep-seated sense of moral integrity.
Dominic Sessa plays Angus Tully, whose character represents a subversion of tropes. Far from a one-dimensional troubled teen, Angus emerges as multifaceted, wrestling with isolation and family troubles. Sessa portrays a sensitive, intelligent young man desperately seeking connection and understanding.
Da’Vine Joy Randolph delivers the film’s emotional cornerstone through her character, Mary Lamb. Her portrayal of grief, specifically the loss of her son in Vietnam, brings depth to the narrative. Unlike typical depictions of mourning, Randolph’s performance captures the complexity of personal loss as her character represents the overlooked grief of working-class families during the Vietnam War era.
Cinematic Nuance and Authenticity
The film’s approach to period filmmaking is particularly noteworthy. The 1970s setting captures the era’s social tensions with remarkable subtlety. The lingering effects of the Vietnam War, class disparities and emerging social changes are woven seamlessly into the narrative without heavy-handed exposition. The cinematography, costume design, and set decoration create an immersive environment that feels authentically lived-in and less artificially constructed.
The visual language of the film mirrors its thematic complexity. Muted colour palettes and carefully composed shots reflect the characters’ internal landscapes, allowing emotional nuances to emerge through subtle framing and lighting choices. There’s a visual restraint that creates an effect that quietly speaks to the era’s social dynamics.
I loved the aesthetic choices; the authentically rendered 1970s environment, with its muted earth tones, knit sweaters, and wood-panelled interiors, created a beautifully nostalgic tableau that captured subtleties in its visual texture.
The boarding school itself represents a nuanced symbol of generational wealth transfer, where economic privilege coexists with neglect and where the shadow of the Vietnam War — which disproportionately affected working-class communities — lingers just beneath the surface of daily interactions. Character Mary Lamb’s son, Curtis, was drafted to Vietnam, a storyline that poignantly illustrates how lower-income families bore a significantly higher burden during the war.
The statistics from this period support this narrative. During the Vietnam War, working-class and minority soldiers were much more likely to be drafted and serve in combat roles. Wealthy and middle-class students could often avoid service through college deferments, medical exemptions, or family connections. In the film, this is subtly highlighted by the boarding school students’ relative insulation from the war’s immediate consequences, contrasting sharply with Mary Lamb’s profound loss.
“The Holdovers” critique of institutional structures, particularly elite educational institutions is deconstructed through Hunham’s position as a teacher. He doesn’t quite fit the elitist institutional mould and becomes a metaphor for outsider perspectives. His working-class background and intellectual integrity challenge the school’s unspoken social hierarchies.
Hunham, a scholarship student turned educator, understands institutional systems from the perspective of someone perpetually on the margins. His teaching of classics isn’t just an academic exercise but a form of resistance. By rigorously teaching Greek and Roman history, he introduces students to narratives of social critique and challenging power structures that mirror the institution he works within. His quoting of philosophers echoes the sentiment that complacency and privilege lead to systemic collapse.
True power isn’t about maintaining a system but challenging its fundamental injustices — Marcus Aurelius.
The school administration’s treatment of Hunham symbolises broader institutional mechanisms of exclusion. He’s tolerated but never truly accepted, much like how marginalised individuals are often performatively included in elite spaces without being genuinely integrated.
I thoroughly enjoyed his character; he’s a provocateur who uses classical knowledge as a tool, which adds a layer of depth and comedy to this story. His integrity and principled stance make him a deliberate outcast in a system built on privilege and connection.
The relationship between Hunham and Angus his student, is not a straightforward redemption narrative, but a complex negotiation of mutual understanding. Their connection develops through genuine moments of vulnerability, intellectual engagement, and unexpected empathy.
Where traditional Christmas films often rely on sentimental resolutions, “The Holdovers” offers a more nuanced perspective on connection and healing. The characters’ transformations are subtle and hard-earned. There are no miraculous interventions or simplistic reconciliations. Instead, the film presents growth as a complex, often painful process of mutual understanding.
“The Holdovers” stands as a testament to the power of nuanced storytelling. It demonstrates how cinema can explore complex human experiences without resorting to simplistic emotional conduct. The exceptional performances create a work that is simultaneously intimate and expansive.
This film reminded me that true connection emerges through patient understanding and the willingness to look beyond surface appearances.
For viewers seeking a meaningful, intellectually rich cinematic experience, “The Holdovers” is a must-watch. It’s a lovely blend of humour, nostalgia and a realistic portrayal of people finding solace and understanding.
It's such a refreshing and wholesome movie — One I’ll be rewatching!
