In a world where authenticity is the name of the game, the lines between reality and storytelling can become beautifully intertwined. Alexander Payne’s 2023 film, The Holdovers, taps into this notion, inviting audiences to reflect on the bonds that shape us. As the saying goes, “Art imitates life”, but sometimes it’s the life experiences woven into fiction that leaves the most lasting impact.
Set in a New England prep school during the early 1970s, The Holdovers follows a grumpy teacher who, rather than enjoying a holiday break, finds himself supervising a handful of students with nowhere to go. With standout performances from Paul Giamatti, and Dominic Sessa, this story delves into themes of connection, loss, and resilience. Penned by David Hemingson, the flick offers a captivating glimpse into the lives of its characters, making viewers wonder: is it based on true events? The answer might surprise you.
What Is The Holdovers About?
At its core, The Holdovers revolves around a curmudgeonly teacher, Paul Hunham (played by Paul Giamatti) of a prestigious boys’ boarding school in Massachusetts who, during the holiday season, remains on campus to supervise the few students without a place to go for Christmas. Among these students is a bright but rebellious pupil, played by Dominic Sessa.
As the story unfolds, we witness an unlikely bond form between the teacher, the student, and the school’s cook, each dealing with their own struggles and losses.
The film shows outstanding performances from Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Dominic Sessa, each breathing life and authenticity into their characters. Critics have heaped praise on their heartfelt performances, which have significantly contributed to the film’s phenomenal 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, as well as several prestigious nominations, including a nod for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
Is The Holdovers Based on a True Story?
While the film resonates with an air of authenticity, it is essential to clarify that The Holdovers is not technically based on a true story. Screenwriter David Hemingson, who has a background in television writing, penned the script drawing on his own life experiences (see Vanity Fair). He attended prep school in New England, but the characters and events depicted in the film are largely fictionalized.
Though many characters and events in The Holdovers are products of Hemingson’s imagination, there are threads of truth woven throughout. For Time, he also wrote an article detailing the real-life individuals who inspired various aspects of the story, shedding light on the connections between his life and the film’s characters. In 1969, when his “parents’ marriage ended”, it had a profound impact on him, setting the stage for the emotional landscape of the film. Hemingson explained:
School was a challenge. I was an awkward, scattered, bookish kid with ADHD, so the social dynamics were tough for me in the best of times and just got more challenging in the wake of the marital meltdown.
He reflected on how this experience altered the course of his life and inspired the narrative. And the character of Angus Tully appears to be inspired by Hemingson himself:
Angus would become a version of me—a little older but no less of an outsider, hungry for guidance and connection—loving a brilliant and mysterious father from a distance.
Hemingson also shared that his uncle, Earl Cahail, emerged as an essential father figure, guiding him through his formative years. The latter ultimately became the inspiration for Paul Giamatti’s character in The Holdovers.
What Makes The Holdovers Unique?
Movies are a stairway to the past, and in The Holdovers, director Alexander Payne created a cinematic time machine that transports viewers to the early 1970s. With retro title cards, intentional film scratches, and vintage audio pops, this film isn’t just set in a bygone era—it feels as if it’s been plucked directly from it. As Payne himself puts it (The LA Times):
What if we tried to make it look and feel as though it had been made in 1970?
Payne, now in his sixties, carries a deep affection for the 1970s, a decade that not only shaped his formative years but also fostered a unique filmmaking ethos. The director further reflected on this period with nostalgia, recalling how films from Five Easy Pieces to Breaking Away prioritized authentic narratives over sensationalism. “Good, human, character-based stories”, he contended, echoing the spirit of a time when cinema was a mirror reflecting the complexities of life.
Has The Holdovers Faced Plagiarism Claims?
As the saying goes, “There’s no such thing as bad publicity,” but in this case, the stakes are incredibly high. Screenwriter Simon Stephenson, known for his work on the animated film Luca, claimed that The Holdovers is essentially a copy of his own screenplay titled Frisco. He alleged that the film, which stars Paul Giamatti, lifts not just ideas but entire sequences, characters, and dialogues directly from his work.
To back up his claims (via Variety), Stephenson submitted a 33-page document filled with evidence, presenting what he argued is a compelling case. He asserted that
The meaningful entirety of the screenplay for The Holdovers has been copied from the Frisco screenplay by transposition.
His detailed allegations cover everything from story structure to character arcs, insisting that many unique elements from Frisco were “readily and unequivocally identifiable” in The Holdovers.
While Stephenson’s accusations have sparked conversations across the film industry, the validity of his claims remains a topic of heated debate.
Moreover, The Holdovers has made waves, racking up five nominations at the 96th Academy Awards, including nods for Best Picture and Best Actor for Giamatti. To top it off, Da’Vine Joy Randolph snagged the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.
The Holdovers is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
