BREAKING AWAY
US, 1979, 100 minutes, Colour.
Dennis Christopher, Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern, Jackie Earle Haley, Barbara Barrie, Paul Dooley, Robyn Douglass, Hart Bochner, Amy Wright.
Directed by Peter Yates.
Breaking Away is an extremely likable film. Filmed in Bloomington, Indiana (and making it look and feel authentic), this story of four boys about to break away from adolescence to manhood has humour in plenty, but also many realistic touches that we can all nod at. While Dennis Christopher is excellent in the central role of Dave (infatuated with Italy, naive and nice, skilful cyclist) , Barbara Barrie as his patient mother and, especially, Paul Dooley as his exasperated father have some very good scenes. British director Peter Yates captures the American atmosphere and has some of the best cycling footage in feature films. An Oscar winning screenplay, an achievement for a modest but excellent film. Yates has made such striking films as Bullitt, Murphy's War and such popular successes as The Deep, Mother, Jugs and Speed.
1. The popularity of the film? Its Oscar nominations - as best film, for screenplay? The Oscar award for Best Original Screenplay? The appeal of the late '70s family - optimism, hope?
2. The film was very autobiographical for the screenplay writer, the atmosphere and tones of authenticity. the presentation of Bloomington, the city itself, streets, homes, the environment, the quarry, the university? The events in the town, especially within the academic year, school, work, the builders, the Little 500 Bicycle Race?
3. The colour photography in communicating the authentic atmosphere, the sense of place? The special effects especially for the presentation of sport, for the cycling sequences? The musical score?
4. The title and the reference to the boys? How well was the theme illustrated in each of the boys: age, education, family, work, friendship in the group, mutual support, attitudes towards life, the future, sense of achievement, sport and the final victory?
5. The four boys as a group, their comradeship, the early sequences establishing them as a group and as individuals, their talk, good humour, the quarry and the swimming hole? Their aims in supporting one another in the group? Seeing them at play, their meshing together? Their being part of the Cutters of Bloomington? Mike and his memories of his sports achievement and his sense of frustration? Moocher and his attachment towards Nancy, work, his home? Cyril and his ineffective father? Dave and his friendship and sense of humour within the group? Mike and his leadership, Dave and his leadership? The clash with the university students, the fight in the bar, the rival swimming, the dating of Katherine by Dave? The difficulties during the summer, changes in attitude? The need to break away from the adolescent way of life, the race and the achievement of winning as symbolic of this?
6. The presentation of the parent generation by contrast ? Dave's parents and the way of life at home, age, style? Their concern about Dave? Moocher's absent parents? Cyril's ineffective father? The absence of family for Mike? The policeman friendly with Mike?
7. The film's portrait of Dave, seeing him in his Italian phase with all the attention to detail in his room, accent, phrases? His playing at being Italian within the group? The exasperation of his father at how? The meting with Katherine and his pretending to be Italian at their various meetings, his charming her (and his having to tell her the truth and his hurting her)? His parents and their exasperation, his mother's patience, his father's continual irritation and sounding off, seriously, humorously? Dave and his sense of being a victim of his situation? The looking forward to the race against the Cinzano Italians, the build up to the race, his keeping up with them, their cheating and disqualifying him? The disillusionment of the end of the race? His anti-Italian feeling, changing his room, telling Katherine and her slap? His having to work for his father? The discussions about his father's honesty in the selling of the car ? as well as his father's wanting to disown him in the street? The build-up to the final race, his skill at riding as illustrated with the truck and following and keeping pace with the truck? His being hurt in the race, the group riding for him, his achievement in going on, the win? The doing of the exam and passing it? The walk and talk with his father about education? The support of his parents at the race? The future and the bonds between them? A new child in the family? The humour of the ending and his beginning his French phase? How insightful a portrait of an adolescent boy?
8. The portrait of the other boys in comparison with Dave - Mike and his leadership, his bitterness, driving the car, clashing especially in the fight at the hotel, the swim and his losing against Rod? His exasperation about the group? His pushing of Dave into the race, his participation in the riding? Some achievement? Moocher and his age, shortness, love for Nancy and the preparations for their marriage, her visit to his how? His work and giving up the job? Cyril and his humour, the talk about his father? Their blending together as a group. against the university types, their pride in being Cutters, discussions about their education and future, their participation in the race at the end and in sharing the achievement?
9. The portrait of Mom and Dad - as types, expressing exasperated parent attitudes, Mom's quiet and support of Dave, her love for things Italian? The humour of Dave's singing and the Italian meal - and the prospective birth of the child? Dad's dishonesty and Dave's disillusionment? The importance of Dad's illness, the exasperation about having to give money back? The significance of the walk throughout the city and the examination of the stones in the building, the discussion about the Cutters, the past? The university and education? Dad and his support of Dave at the race?
10. The presentation of the university students - the smart set, their code and their bonds with one another, going to the quarry for swimming, eating, the fight and the police intervention? Rod and his rivalry? Katherine as belonging to this group, her being charmed by Dave - the outings and her support? The telling of the truth ? her visit to him and supporting him during the race?
11. The focus on cycling, physical exertion, achievement, exercise, exhilaration of the individual on the bike, the machine one with the person, speed? Keeping pace with the truck driver and the truckie pulled over by the police? The Italians and the race and the disillusionment? The team effort? The rivalry with the university group during the race? The effect of the physical exertion and achievement?
12. The presentation of the race in itself, audience interest, suspense, the various cinema devices used to communicate the exhilaration of the race?
13. The portrait of local people e.g. the policeman, the people at the university, the garage owner? Adding to the authentic flavour?
14. The quality of the film as comedy and its number of laughs? The sentiment in the film and the warm feeling that the audience had for the characters? Insight into character and perennial situations? An uplift at the end of the 1970s?
