The Holdovers
The Holdovers is a 2023 American period comedy drama film directed by Alexander Payne and written by David Hemingson. The film stars Paul Giamatti, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, and Dominic Sessa. Set in 1970, its plot follows a curmudgeon history teacher at a New England prep school who is forced to chaperone the handful of students with nowhere to go over Christmas break. The Holdovers premiered at the 50th Telluride Film Festival on August 31, 2023. It was released for a limited theatrical release in the United States on October 27, 2023, followed by a wide release on November 10, 2023, by Focus Features. Premise Set in the early 1970s, the film follows Paul Hunham, a disliked teacher at Barton Academy, who's responsible for supervising students who are unable to return home for the Christmas holidays. During this process, Hunham is forced to deal with one particularly rebellious but troubled student, Angus, who is grieving the loss of his father. Cast Paul Giamatti as Paul Hunham Dominic Sessa as Angus Tully Da'Vine Joy Randolph as Mary Lamb Carrie Preston as Miss Lydia Crane Gillian Vigman as Judy Clotfelter Tate Donovan as Stanley Clotfelter Production The Holdovers is the second collaboration between