Holy Days (2026)

RATING: A

Blue Fox Entertainment presents a Velvet Moss/Lily Pictures production in association with CBC Films. Written and directed by Nat Boltt. Produced by Roxi Bull, Victoria Dabbs, Sushant Desai, Michelle Morris, and Emma Slade. Based on the novel by Joy Cowley. Cinematography by Thomas Burstyn. Edited by Calry Turner.

Stars Elijah Tamati, Judy Davis, Miriam Margolyes, Jacki Weaver, Craig Hall, Nat Boltt, John Bach, Dior Manaia Tamati, Renaye Tamati, and Jonny Brugh.

A young boy and three eccentric nuns embark on a life-changing road trip in this perfect blend of comedy and drama, marking the directorial debut of Riverdale’s Nat Boltt.

Brian Collins is a ten-year-old boy living in New Zealand in the 1970s. His mother has passed away, and his father has moved on and is getting ready to get married to his girlfriend, much to his chagrin. He finds solace at a local convent run by a trio of nuns. Sister Agnes, the Mother Superior, is quite outspoken. Sister Mary Clare overcame a childhood trauma but has a submissive personality. Sister Luke, who loves to tend to the garden, suffers from dementia.

When Brian overhears a conversation between Bishop Chaytor and Father Findlay about plans to sell the convent to a shady developer, the nuns are in for a shock. They soon realize that the deed to the convent is located in the hometown of Brian’s late mother. The nuns and Brian decide to go on a road trip to track down Brian’s great-aunt, a lawyer, for possible help. The four will soon discover so much along the way in hopes of saving the convent, and it will be a trip destined to change their lives forever.

A blend of fun comedy mixed with heartbreaking emotion, this film marks the directorial debut of Nat Boltt, who may be best known for her role as Penelope Blossom on Riverdale. While she also appears in the film, she takes a step back in a smaller role to highlight the stars of the film, notably young breakout star Elijah Tamati as a kid suffering from loss who finds himself wishing he were with her rather than living his life.

Tamati is excellent in the role of suffering Brian, who is still mourning the death of his mother and refuses to accept his father’s fiance, played by the director. He becomes an unlikely hero when in a fit of anger, runs away and hides in a confessional and accidentally overhears the conversation that sets up the central story. It may be hard at times to sympathize with Brian because he treats Liz (Boltt’s character) like dirt, but we also can’t help but to do so as he wishes to be with mom rather than move on, until a very shocking start to the third act shows a jaw-dropping act of revelation.

Screen legends Judy Davis, Jacki Weaver, and Miriam Margolyes show exactly why they are just that: legends. Davis is funny in the role of the Mother Superior, bringing a sense of homely calm mixed with a spirited wit that channels someone like Allison Janney, who would also be perfect in this spirited (pun intended) role. Weaver’s Sister Mary Clare may seem submissive and at times more to handle, but when we learn its trigger, it’s clear to see this trip may end up being what she needs to gain the confidence within herself. As for Margolyes’ Sister Luke, she may be suffering from beats of dementia, but deep down, she is definitely a fun character like her fellow nuns and even gets to show that fun side, and at times homely too, during the trip.

The Bishop, played by John Bach, brings to mind James Coburn’s antagonistic board member in Sister Act 2, very shady and is totally against the nuns as is Father Findlay, played by Jonny Brugh, who would rather enjoy a game than help the nuns or be in prayer. I mean, when you are introduced in the film as a man of the cloth, and you have a cigarette sticking out of your mouth, it makes one wonder.

Holy Days is a great directorial debut for Nat Boltt, blending witty comedy and occasional emotional drama. Legends Davis, Weaver, and Margolyes spearhead as the trio of determined nuns while Elijah Tamati churns out a breakout performance as the young boy who may find a positive life-changing experience while on this road trip.