Films often become iconic through a seemingly simple phrase that sticks in the audience’s mind. For me, one of the earliest examples of such a film is Holes (2003), a feature that remains a firm favourite since I was a little kid. Adapted from the novel by Louis Sachar, Holes follows a group of young delinquents who are sent to a juvenile detention camp called Camp Green Lake.

With a talented, eclectic cast (Sigourney Weaver and Jon Voight steal the show) and a compelling storyline courtesy of Sachar, Holes is difficult to dislike. What makes it stand out, however, is its portrayal of the history of Camp Green Lake and in particular, the forbidden relationship between Kate Barlow (a heartbreaking performance by Patricia Arquette) and an African American onion merchant, Sam. As a schoolteacher, Kate initially strikes up a friendship with Sam when her schoolhouse starts to leak during a storm. “I can fix that” quickly becomes Sam’s flirtatious mantra. In a series of flashbacks, it is revealed how their forbidden love ended as quickly as it begun. When the local sheriff hears word of their relationship, he sends out men to kill Sam, leaving Kate utterly hopeless and hellbent on seeking revenge.The words “I can fix that” take on a new sharply poignant meaning when she transforms herself into the notorious outlaw, ‘KB’, in the West.  

Since the film’s release in the early 2000’s, Holes has found its place as a well-watched family classic and its powerful catchphrase has been given an honorary seat in the meme-osphere and beyond.