THE HOLDOVERS [SOLD OUT]

The Holdovers reunites acclaimed Sideways’ director Alexander Payne and actor Paul Giamatti in a holiday story of three lonely, shipwrecked people at a New England boarding school over winter break in 1970. Giamatti is perfectly cast as Paul Hunham, a professor of ancient history – disliked by both students and faculty – who gets stuck holding over at Barton Academy with the kids who can’t go home for the holidays. It’s his punishment for failing a high-profile student whose father endowed the school’s gymnasium. The motley crew of boys under Hunham’s care is soon whittled down to just one: Angus Tully, played by Dominic Sessa in his film debut. Angus is a smart but damaged junior who’s trying to navigate a host of complicated family dynamics. Also holding over is Mary Lamb (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), the head cook of the school whose only child Curtis, a recent graduate of Barton, was killed in Vietnam. Still deep in grief, Mary chooses to stay at Barton because it was the last place she was with her son. Left to their own devices in the empty school, this unlikely trio finds adventure, calamity, and finally, some semblance of family and healing.  Conversation with Director Alexander Payne, recipient of MFF’s Director Spotlight Award, following Saturday Night’s Centerpiece screening.

 

133 min.