There is something disarmingly refreshing about Nathalie Boltt’s directorial debut, Holy Days. Adapting Dame Joy Cowley’s novel, the District 9 and Riverdale actor-turned-filmmaker delivers an impressive first feature that lands in UK this week.
In a summer dominated by the colossal spectacle of The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Holy Days arrives as exactly the kind of gentle alternative that deserves its moment in the spotlight.
Set in early 1970s New Zealand, the story follows young Brian (Elijah Tamati), a grieving Māori boy who hasn’t come to terms with his mother’s death; and who resents his father for moving on so soon with his new partner, Liz (Nathalie Boltt). Convinced he can still reach his mother’s spirit before she passes into the next world forever, Brian believes the answer lies atop the sacred, snow-capped peak of Aoraki/Mount Cook.
He finds unlikely allies in three elderly nuns from the local convent — Sister Agnes (Judy Davis), Sister Mary Clare (Jacki Weaver) and Sister Luke (Miriam Margolyes) — who have their own reason to hit the road: their convent faces closure at the hands of a dodgy land developer, and their only hope is tracking down the deed with a lawyer in the Southern Alps.
Brian tags along, and an unlikely road trip becomes an emotional expedition where every member of this mismatched group discovers something unexpected about themselves.
Although Holy Days is presented like a family road movie, its real strength lies in how honestly it explores grief, faith, acceptance and the complicated process of growing up. Brian’s refusal to let go of his mother, and his resentment toward Liz,is at the heart of this beautifully devised debut feature, while the nuns provide gentle reminders that life never stops asking us to change. Boltt balances these heavier ideas with enough genuine humour to keep the film uplifting without ever tipping into overly sentimental territory.
Tamati delivers an impressively natural lead performance, carrying real emotional weight. Davis, Weaver and Margolyes are exactly as delightful as you’d expect, each bringing distinct personalities that bounce off one another.
What makes Holy Days special is its reminder that not every trip to the cinema needs earth-shattering spectacle. This summer belongs to The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, but films like this matter just as much to the health of cinemas.
Landing in UK cinemas as schools break up for summer, Holy Days feels perfectly timed: an uplifting family film with enough emotional depth for adults too. Like the best coming-of-age stories, it understands that growing up isn’t about getting older; it’s about learning when it’s time to let go. Funny, moving and anchored by an outstanding ensemble, Nathalie Boltt’s film proves there’s still room for smaller, character-driven stories on the big screen.
