Director Alexander Payne Rejects "Cozy" Label for New Film 'The Holdovers'

Alexander Payne's film 'The Holdovers', while set over Christmas, tackles complex human relations, defying perceived genre labels with its exploration of melancholy and human complexity.

Director Alexander Payne has rejected a 'cozy' narrative for his new film 'The Holdovers'. He argues that the film's exploration of complex characters and relationships extend beyond simplistic genre labels commonly used in marketing and reviews.
The film is set over Christmas break in 1970 at a boarding school, it follows a professor, a wealthy student, and a cafeteria manager who find themselves stuck at the institution for the holidays. Despite its holiday premise, Payne emphasizes that his film is inspired by the high rates of suicide during the holiday season.
Payne acknowledges that specific aspects of the film, such as its use of traditional film instead of digital camera methods and its 1970s setting, might influence the 'cozy' interpretation. However, he stresses that his primary focus was on examining the complexity of human relationships and life's unpredictability.
The film has been praised for its balance of humor and emotion, with its exploration of formative relationships, safeguarding vulnerabilities, and grappling with loneliness and sacrifice identified as particularly impactful themes.
Despite Payne's reluctance to label 'The Holdovers' as a holiday film, critics have noted its potential to become a seasonal staple. The story explores the bonds that are formed between unlikely individuals in times of loneliness and change, embodying the spirit of family in a nontraditional sense.