Movie Review: The Holdovers (2023)

A few days before Christmas, my wife found The Holdovers (2023) on Netflix and wanted to watch it with me. I hadn’t seen any trailers, posters, or even known what kind of movie it was—which actually gave me an excellent viewing experience.

The story is set during the Christmas holidays. As a Taiwanese person, at the beginning, I wasn’t sure how long their holiday would last (it turns out it’s really long, similar to Lunar New Year or annual vacations). The film is about those people who have “nowhere to go” during the break. There’s a grumpy and difficult history teacher, Paul Hunham; a rebellious student, Angus; and a kitchen cook, Mary, who has lost her son but still has to cook for others. Three people stuck in life, forced to stay in an empty school. (There’s also a janitor, but he doesn’t have much screen time.)

Why Was I Moved?

Honestly, this film doesn’t have any big twists or dramatic resolutions. It’s very quiet, with emotions building up slowly. You won’t burst into tears at the climax; instead, you’ll suddenly feel a lump in your throat during some small moments. I especially love its portrayal of the characters. These people aren’t likable, nor are they successful, but you gradually understand them. Someone online said: “These characters aren’t meant for you to like, but for you to slowly understand.”

The ending is also very mature. It’s not like a fairy tale with “and they lived happily ever after.” The teacher doesn’t become a perfect mentor, the student isn’t instantly saved, and life still comes with costs. But each of them gains a bit more dignity and the experience of being understood.

This realism really appeals to me. Unlike modern fast-food plots, I don’t really like cheat-like stories such as “Solo Leveling,” isekai series, or suddenly gaining superpowers. They’re unrealistic and can’t respond to our real situations.

My Interpretation

On the surface, it’s a story about a teacher and a student, but deeper down, it’s about “the dignity of failures.” None of the three characters are particularly successful—academic failures, broken families, losing a child. In the end, no magical force saves them; it just allows them to no longer see each other merely as failures. The teacher’s final choice made me realize that growth doesn’t mean becoming successful, but more honestly bearing the weight of your own life.

Reflecting on my current situation in Taiwan, there are many dissatisfactions and imbalances—speechless toward the heavens. This movie seems to tell me that life may not give me the answers I want, but God will arrange for people willing to accompany me through those stuck periods. Whether it was when I was marginalized at school, during academic setbacks, in the military, or when I was depressed from bullying before.

Who Would I Recommend It To?

If you’re like me—someone who feels like a failure to some extent, with life seemingly stuck and stagnant—you’ll probably be touched by this movie. This isn’t a film that tells you “you will succeed,” but rather that even if you don’t succeed, even if you’re struggling at the bottom without much dignity, you still deserve to be respected and understood. It’s perfect to watch with family during Christmas or New Year’s. Highly recommended to everyone.