‘The Holdovers’ filmed scenes all over Massachusetts last winter. The movie marks Alexander Payne’s first collaboration with Paul Giamatti since ‘Sideways’ in 2004.

Oscar-winner Paul Giamatti reunites with his “Sideways” director Alexander Payne for“The Holdovers,” the Massachusetts-shot film that is already generating awards season buzz. Focus Features picked up the film for $30 million and will release it on Nov. 10 after opening in New York and Los Angeles on Oct. 27, the studio announced today.

Dominic Sessa and Paul Giamatti as Paul Hunham in director Alexander Payne’s 'The Holdovers."
Dominic Sessa and Paul Giamatti as Paul Hunham in director Alexander Payne’s ‘The Holdovers.” (Seacia Pavao/Focus Features)

The movie is set during the holidays in 1970 and old-school cars and clothing were seen in about a dozen locales last February when filming took place. Giamatti plays a curmudgeonly teacher at an elite New England boarding school forced to mind a smart and rebellious student (newcomer Dominic Sessa) unable to journey home for Christmas break. Da’Vine Joy Randolph (“Only Murders in the Building”) co-stars as the school’s head cook who has just lost a son in Vietnam.

Dominic Sessa stars as Angus Tully, Paul Giamatti as Paul Hunham, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Mary Lamb in director Alexander Payne’s "The Holdovers."
Dominic Sessa stars as Angus Tully, Paul Giamatti as Paul Hunham, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Mary Lamb in director Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers.” (Seacia Pavao/Focus Features)

Shooting locations include Fairhaven High School, St. Marks School in Southborough, Chateau restaurant in Waltham, Continental restaurant in Saugus, Orpheum Theater and Faneuil Hall in Boston, Wakefield Bowladrome, Somerville Theater in Davis Square, Clinton Hospital and Strand Center for the Arts in Clinton. Scenes were also shot in Buckland, Cambridge, Gill, Gloucester, Groton, Medfield, Milton, New Bedford, Shelburne Falls, and Worcester. 

Dominic Sessa stars as Angus Tully and Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Mary Lamb in director Alexander Payne’s "The Holdovers."
Dominic Sessa stars as Angus Tully and Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Mary Lamb in director Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers.” (Seacia Pavao/Focus Features)

Giamatti, a veteran character actor adept at playing flawed individuals, can be seen in HBO’s “Billions,” which returns for its seventh—and final—season on August 11. He was nominated for a best supporting actor Oscar for his role in the boxing drama “Cinderella Man” and won Golden Globe, Emmy and Screen Actors Guild awards for playing the title character in the HBO miniseries “John Adams.”