‘The Holdovers’, a heartwarming story set in a New England boarding school during 1970s winters, hit the cinema halls on February 16, 2024. So as the audience eagerly awaits the film, one can also explore other melancholy masterpieces that tug at our heartstrings. These films, including stories of love and sorrow to contemplative journeys, showcase the complexities of human emotions. So, here’s a list of five Hollywood films that provide a compelling cinematic experience to all.
‘Brokeback Mountain’ (2005)
Directed by Ang Lee and based on the short story by Annie Proulx, the film is a profoundly moving love story, which is set against the landscapes of Wyoming and Texas. Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) forge a forbidden romance while working as sheep herders. Their love has to endure the societal expectations and the complexities of their own identities. Featuring some heartbreaking performances, this film is a beautiful depiction on love, longing, and the sacrifices.
‘The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Based on Stephen King's novella, ‘Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption’, the classic film directed by Frank Darabont is about friendship, and redemption. Set within the walls of Shawshank State Penitentiary, it showcases the enduring friendship between Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), a banker wrongfully convicted of murder, and Red (Morgan Freeman), an inmate. Together, they deal with the harsh realities of prison life, and forge a bond of hope amidst despair.
‘Lost in Translation’ (2003)
Directed by Sofia Coppola, the film explores themes of loneliness, connection, and the nature of human relationships. Bob Harris (Bill Murray) plays a washed-up actor, and Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) is a disillusioned young woman. Together, they form a bond while exploring the streets of Tokyo. As they deal with alienation and cultural displacement, they find solace in each other's company, that surpasses language and convention.
‘The Fault in Our Stars’ (2014)
Based on the best-selling novel by John Green, the film depicts an unconventional love story between Hazel Grace Lancaster (Shailene Woodley), a terminally ill teenager, and Augustus Waters (Ansel Elgort). The latter is a charismatic fellow cancer patient. Despite their tragic circumstances, the two undertake a journey of love and self-discovery that transcends time and illness, and reminds us of the beauty and fragility of life.
‘Manchester by the Sea’ (2016)
This is a profound human drama about Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck), a solitary janitor who returns to his hometown post the death of his brother. As he grapples with the trauma of his past while caring for his teenage nephew (Lucas Hedges), there’s a sense of raw authenticity and emotional depth. Kenneth Lonergan's direction and Affleck's haunting performance make the film a masterpiece on loss, and redemption.
And here’s the film that inspired this list:
‘The Holdovers’ (2023)
‘The Holdovers’ is a 2023 American comedy-drama film, helmed by Alexander Payne and written by David Hemingson. Set in the winter of 1970, it follows a classics teacher, played by Paul Giamatti, who stays behind at a New England boarding school during a break to supervise a small group of students without plans. The teacher then forms an unexpected connection with a troubled yet intelligent student, and also with a grieving head cook, who recently lost her son in the Vietnam War.
