This year, I saw some of the movies nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture, thanks to streaming networks. You would think these are the kind of movies that are a ‘must see’ … yet some films were either depressing, sad love stories or just plain annoying. A couple were good movies, but for me, there was only one that I would tell others you ‘must see.’ It was a somewhat sad but poignant character-driven Christmas movie, The Holdovers.
The Holdovers is the story of a boarding school professor, Paul Hunham, in the 1970s, who is elected to stay at the school through Christmas to watch some of the students who cannot go home. The professor is not well-liked, smells like fish (because of a condition), has a lazy eye, and is a bitter, irritable, and demanding teacher. At some point, the remaining boys are whisked away, and only one is left, Angus Tully. Angus is a bitter, sarcastic student whose mother is spending time with her new husband and asks him not to come home for Christmas. Hunham is annoyed by him, but the other main character, Mary, the cook (whose son died a year ago), encourages Hunham to be nice to the boy. She is a Christian. The three forge an unlikely friendship as they escape their isolation. (In writing this, I realize the screenwriter did not randomly choose their names.)
It is a rehearsal of the best story ever told. (Spoiler Alert) Hunham, a very flawed character, is changed by the relationships and makes a poignant and profound sacrifice that also frees him. There is a subtle and powerful change in Hunham. Some prefer more significant stories based on worldview issues like race, homosexuality, war, gender, etc. For some, The Holdovers is too clear, obvious, and neat. It is less about big ideas than an individual story with universal themes. I came away from the movie thinking, am I willing to sacrifice like this? Can I spend enough time with others to move from irritation and annoyance to sacrificially loving them?
In the parables, Jesus preaches about the big idea, the kingdom of God. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells the story of the lost son, the dishonest manager, the rich man, and Lazarus, among many other parables. In Luke, the Pharisees ask Jesus when the kingdom of God is coming. Jesus tells them the kingdom of God is within them (Luke 17:21). People often focus on changing corrupt systems and not changing hearts and minds. If we only focus on changing the outside world but are not focused on our hearts, we miss the reason why Jesus came.
