The Holdovers (2023)

Film and Plot Synopsis

“The Holdovers” reunites “Sideways” alums Paul Giamatti and director Alexander Payne in a Christmas story of three lonely, shipwrecked people at a New England boarding school over a very snowy holiday break in 1970. The comedy stars Giamatti as Paul Hunham, an odiferous, optically-challenged adjunct professor of ancient history who is universally disliked by students and faculty; Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Mary Lamb, the head cook of the school whose only child Curtis was killed in Vietnam, and Dominic Sessa, in his film debut, as Angus Tully, a student at the school – a smart, damaged, troublemaker but a good kid underneath who’s just trying to make his way. Left to their own devices in the empty school, there are adventures, a little calamity and finally, a semblance of family. (Courtesy of Miramax)

‘The Holdovers’ Movie Summary

Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti) is a classics professor at Barton Academy, a New England boarding school in December 1970. Hunham has a long history with Barton as he attended the school on scholarship when he was young. The students and the fellow teachers all despise Hunham for his strict grading and stubborn personality. Barton’s headmaster, Dr. Hardy Woodrup (Andrew Garman), is a former student of Hunham, who finds himself at odds with Hunham after the teacher refuses to change a grade for the son of an important donor of the school.

Due to his unpopularity and the lack of a family, Hunham is forced to supervise five students left on campus during the Christmas holiday break. One of the students, Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa), is forced to stay over the break due to his mother deciding to go on a honeymoon with her new husband rather than spend time with Angus. The cafeteria manager Mary Lamb (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) also stays at Barton over the break. Mary’s son, Curtis, was a former Barton student who joined the military to pay for college. Unfortunately, Curtis was killed in Vietnam and Mary is still grieving over his death.

To the students’ chagrin, Hunham forces them to study and exercise. After six days, the wealthy father of one of the students arrives by helicopter and agrees to take all five students on the family’s ski trip with their parents’ permission. Unfortunately, Angus is unable to reach his mother to get permission and is left alone at Barton with Hunham and Mary. Not long after, Hunham catches Angus trying to book a hotel room, and the two argue about Hunham’s disciplinarian policies. Angus begins running through the school, pursued by Hunham. Angus leaps into a pile of gym equipment and dislocates his shoulder. Hunham takes Angus to the hospital, and Angus lies to the doctors about the cause of the injury to protect Hunham.

After leaving the hospital, Hunham takes Angus to a restaurant to get something to eat. They encounter Lydia Crane (Carrie Preston), Woodrup’s assistant, who is working part-time at the restaurant. Lydia and Hunham flirt with each other, and Lydia invites both Hunham and Angus to her Christmas Eve party. Not long after, Hunham, Angus, Mary, and Barton’s janitor, Danny (Naheem Garcia) attend the party at Lydia’s house. Angus flirts with Lydia’s niece, Elise (Darby Lily Lee-Stack), while Hunham continues to try to flirt with Lydia. Hunham is disappointed when he learns that Lydia has a boyfriend. A short time later, Mary has a breakdown after she gets drunk and emotional over her son’s death. Hunham insists on leaving early despite Angus’ protests. The two argue and when Hunham references Angus’ father, Angus blurts out that his father is dead. Mary scolds Hunham for his unsympathetic behavior towards Angus.

Hardy, I have known you since you were a boy, so I think I have the requisite experience and insight to aver that you are and always have been penis cancer in human form. Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti)

Hunham feels remorseful for his actions and arranges for a small Christmas celebration. Mary convinces Hunham to grant Angus’ wish for a field trip to Boston. Hunham, Angus, and Mary hit the road. Hunham and Angus drop Mary off in Roxbury at her pregnant sister’s house before continuing on to Boston. Once in Boston, Angus and Hunham bond over various activities, including a visit to the Museum of Fine Arts and ice skating. The pair encounter one of Hunham’s classmates from Harvard University, Hugh Cavanaugh (Kelly AuCoin), who has become a successful academic. Hunham lies about his own career, and surprisingly, Angus plays along. Afterwards, Hunham confesses to Angus that he was expelled from Harvard for deliberately hitting a classmate with a car after the classmate copied Hunham’s work and then accused Hunham of plagiarism. Hunham explains to Angus that the former headmaster of Barton took pity on him and offered him a teaching job.

Later, Hunham and Angus go to see a movie at the Orpheum Theatre. During the film, Angus sneaks out, and Hunham catches him getting into a taxi. Angus explains that he was not trying to get away from Hunham but was trying to see his father. Hunham agrees to go with him and presumes they are going to a cemetery. However, he is surprised to learn that their destination is a psychiatric hospital where Angus’ very much alive father (Steve Thorne) is confined. Angus explains that his father has severe mental health issues and has violent outbursts. After the visit, Angus expresses concern that he will end up like his father. Hunham comforts the boy and expresses the respect that he has developed for Angus. While in their hotel room, Angus drops his mental health medication and Hunham notes that it is the same medication that he himself takes. The pair pick up Mary and return to Barton where the trio celebrates New Year’s Eve with Danny.

A few days later when the new semester begins, Hunham is summoned to Dr. Woodrup’s office. Present in the office are Angus’ mother (Gillian Vigman) and stepfather (Tate Donovan). They inform Hunham that Angus’ unauthorized visit to his father resulted in Angus’ father having another violent outburst. As a result, Angus’ mother has to find a new facility for Angus’ father. Angus’ mother and stepfather threaten to withdraw Angus from Barton and send him to a military school. Hunham defends Angus and takes full responsibility for the trip. Woodrup fires Hunham, but Angus’ mother and Woodrup decide to let Angus stay at Barton.

Before leaving, Hunham says goodbye to Mary. Mary, who has come to better terms over the death of her son, gives Hunham a notebook for the monograph he has always wanted to write. Hunham and Angus also say goodbye to each other as well, having grown a mutual respect and fondness for one another. As Hunham pulls away in his car, he sips an expensive cognac that he stole from Woodrup’s office. After taking a drink, Hunham spits it out towards the school before driving off into his new life.