Discomfort And Joy.

Starring: Paul Giamatti, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Dominic Sessa, Carrie Preston, Brady Hepner, Ian Dolley, Jim Kaplan, Michael Provost, Andrew Garman, Naheem Garcia, Stephen Thorne, Gillian Vigman

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"You know, Mr. Kountze, for most people, life is like a henhouse ladder: shitty and short. You were born lucky. Maybe someday, you entitled little degenerates will appreciate that. If you don't, I feel sorry for you and we will have failed to do our jobs." - Paul Hunham

Why watch this? Giamatti, Da'Vine Joy, and newcomer Dominic Sessa captivate in this gem.

Plot Summary: Set in 1970, a strict and unpopular history teacher at a New England boarding school is forced to supervise students who have nowhere to go during Christmas break. He is left stranded on campus with a brainy but troubled teenager and the grieving head cook. Together, these three unlikely companions form a makeshift family and share unexpected misadventures that help them heal from their pasts.
 

Dad's Preview: This New England dramedy begs me to watch it again. It's filled with perhaps the wittiest dialogue in the last few years. It introduces us to a slew of interesting characters, then effectively whisks many of them away to a ski vacation. We are left with the true holdovers: Mary, the school's cafeteria manager; Paul, a stubborn teacher living in a sort of self-imposed exile; and Angus, an intelligent, but inwardly angry young boarding school student. Let the in-depth exploration of these three incredibly interesting souls begin! There is a richness here, like an ordinary piece of cake that, when bitten into, blows your mind with its complex flavors. If it feels like a comedy and a drama, it is. It's also a holiday film about what holidays should center on - appreciating those in your orbit who, despite liking them or not, impact you in positive ways.

Miramax, Gran Via; Focus Features