The Holdovers: A Heartwarming Holiday Tale of Unexpected Bonds

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"The Holdovers" is a film set in the early 1970s at Barton Academy, a prestigious New England prep school. The story revolves around three main characters who form an unlikely bond during the Christmas break:

1. Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti): A curmudgeonly history instructor who is forced to stay on campus to supervise the students who have nowhere else to go for the holidays.
   

   

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2. Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa): A 15-year-old student who is struggling with the recent death of his father and the abandonment of his mother.
3. Mary Lamb (Da'Vine Joy Randolph): The head cook, who is grieving the loss of her son, a soldier killed in the Vietnam War.

The film explores several themes:

• Love and Family: The movie emphasizes that love and support can come from unexpected sources. Paul, Angus, and Mary form a new kind of family, providing each other with the emotional support they lack.
  

  

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• Impermanence of Youth: The film delves into the bittersweet nature of growing up and the inevitable passage of time.
• Depression, Loneliness, and Loss: The characters deal with personal struggles, including depression, loneliness, and the grief of losing loved ones.
• Strength in Diversity: The characters' diverse backgrounds and experiences highlight the strength that comes from understanding and supporting each other.

The setting during the early 1970s adds a layer of historical context, capturing the spirit of the time with themes of rebellion, societal change, and the impact of the Vietnam War on young people.

"The Holdovers" has been praised for its heartwarming and humorous portrayal of human connections, making it a new favorite holiday classic for many viewers.