The Holdovers (2023)
The Holdovers
”A curmudgeonly instructor forms an unlikely bond with a brainy troublemaker and the school's head cook during Christmas break at a New England prep school.”
Available at home
Rent or Buy
&plat_logo=https://media.filmelier.com/images/plataformas/icone_mobile/365599cc6c68bb404af36411d40a866c.png&link=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fmovie%2Fthe-holdovers%2Fid1713434224%3Fat%3D1000loWU%26mt%3D6 "Apple TV (iTunes)")
Trailer
Why watch this film?
One of those darling films of the awards season in 2024, The Holdovers follows the story of a teacher (Paul Giamatti, brilliant), a grieving cook (Da'Vine Joy Randolph), and a troubled student (Dominic Sessa) who come together during the year-end celebrations when all other students, teachers, and staff go home – they, however, need to stay as the young man has nowhere else to go. Well-directed by Alexander Payne (known for above-average films like Nebraska, Sideways and The Descendants), the feature manages to stir emotions with the story of these characters seemingly rejected by life but finding each other in their differences – although the script emphasizes that there are more similarities than differences among these three characters. Joy Randolph and Sessa perform well, but the film belongs entirely to Giamatti, delivering a poignant yet funny portrayal of this teacher hated by students with unexpected eccentricities. Just don't expect a Dead Poets Society: the film is more about human relationships than teachers' lessons.
Filmelier
Our suggestions
Plot summary
From acclaimed director Alexander Payne, The Holdovers follows a curmudgeonly instructor (Paul Giamatti) at a New England prep school who is forced to remain on campus during Christmas break to babysit the handful of students with nowhere to go. Eventually he forms an unlikely bond with one of them — a damaged, brainy troublemaker (newcomer Dominic Sessa) — and with the school's head cook, who has just lost a son in Vietnam (Da'Vine Joy Randolph).
To share
Do you want to watch something different?
Watch full movies now!
Press play and be surprised!
Where to watch?
From the same director
Downsizing
A deeply human story that captivates, elicits laughter and has an unexpected screenplay. 'Downsizing' manages to satirize society with a worthy balance, without sounding maudlin or exaggerating the dose of humor. The cast is weighty, composed of Matt Damon, Kristen Wiig, Hong Chau, Christoph Waltz, Laura Dern, Neil Patrick Harris and others. The movie even earned a Golden Globe nomination for Thai actress Hong Chau.
Sideways
"Sideways" is an unexpected movie, to say the least. Under the direction of filmmaker Alexander Payne ("Little Big Life"), the film invites the viewer to embark on a seemingly traditional road movie. In focus, two friends (Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church, exceptional) who decide to travel on a "wine route" before the wedding of one of them. However, more than drunkenness, wines and women, these two end up finding and facing problems, flaws and ghosts of the past in each of them, highlighting the difference between the two. Thus, "Sideways" can be seen, yes, as a banal road movie with the typical diversions of two heterosexual men. However, those who want to can go beyond and reflect a lot on humanity and friendship in this so real and interesting story.
Nebraska
Filmmaker Alexander Payne is an excellent storyteller of characters who are disillusioned, lost in their lives and searching for something to give them meaning. Although films like 'Sideways' and 'The Descendants' have solidified his career as a good work, the director reached his peak with the delicate 'Nebraska'. Messing up the viewer's notion of what a road movie is, the film speaks about parenthood, family, memory and losses in a sensitive and memorable way. The black and white contrast in this film, on the other hand, responds to the contrast of the "American dream" and its disappointing results, countless stories of misunderstandings and shattered dreams. With breathtaking performance, too, from Bruce Dern (of 'The Hateful Eight' and 'Silent Running').
Comedy
A Brighter Tomorrow
Italian filmmaker Nanni Moretti (winner of the Palme d'Or in 2001 for The Son's Room) returns with what has been called his 8½, for obvious reasons. A Brighter Tomorrow is the story of a filmmaker struggling to shoot a movie about the Hungarian Revolution, while trying to save his marriage to his producer wife. The film satirizes the current state of cinema, and perhaps indulges a bit too much in its nostalgia. It is far from the best that veteran Moretti has to offer, but if you've enjoyed his previous films, you will undoubtedly enjoy this one.
City Hunter
'City Hunter' - An exceptional marksman and hopeless playboy, private eye Ryo Saeba reluctantly forms an alliance with his late partner’s sister to investigate his death.
Club Zero
Club Zero is a film with a risky proposition: to understand how young people, especially those of Generation Z, dive headfirst into new trends to feel like they belong to something. But at what cost? That's what this complicated film by Jessica Hausner (Little Joe) seeks to understand. Complicated, not because it has any complexity, but because it tackles a thorny issue (this particular behavior) and further complicates it by addressing eating disorders, with young people stopping eating for the sake of a better world. With not much material to discuss, the film ends up going in circles and dangerously falling into emptiness. However, Hausner still manages to find some space to reflect on where the world is heading and, above all, where this dangerous herd behavior is taking us — something that, ultimately, the film itself ends up embracing by adhering to trends reminiscent of Wes Anderson's style and Greek cinema aesthetics.
Aumenta que é Rock’n’Roll
The film tells the story of Luiz Antônio, a clumsy radio presenter who, unexpectedly, finds himself in charge of a bankrupt and falling apart radio station. Relying only on his passion for rock’n’roll and a crazy team, he created one of the most emblematic radio stations in the history of Brazilian rock, Fluminense FM. Between guitar solos and signal interference, we follow the adventures and misadventures of Luiz who, on top of that, falls in love with a married announcer.
