Oscar winning director Alexander Payne (Sideways, Election) pays tribute to the cinema of filmmaker Hal Ashby (Harold and Maude, Coming Home) with 1970s-set comedy THE HOLDOVERS. Curmudgeonly history teacher Mr Hunham (Paul Giamatti) is forced to remain on campus during Christmas break to watch over the few students unable to return home to their families. His patience continually tested by brainy troublemaker Angus (newcomer Dominic Sessa), Hunham and the school’s head cook Mary (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) must overcome their differences to make it through a particularly challenging holiday season.