Everyone has one film that irrevocably changed their life. From these films, perhaps you discovered the meaning of love, the path to becoming the hero you always wanted to be, or maybe just a simple life lesson. Whatever the case, it somehow impacted your life. For me, that was The Breakfast Club. I first watched the 1985 classic when I was 14, and continued to rewatch it over the passing years, each time finding some newfound wisdom or influence from each viewing. However, the problem with favorite films happens to be the fact we tend to wear them out as we watch and rewatch and obsess over them. I last watched The Breakfast when I was 17, and now nearly three years later, I was ready to revisit one of my favorite films.
The Breakfast Club tells the story of five high school students who come from very different backgrounds and reside within very different social groups within their school setting. However, the film opens with the idea that each of the five students has done something to garner detention on a Saturday. What is so interesting about this film is that there is essentially no plot. Director John Hughes places his five varying characters in a setting in which they are forced to talk to each other. We learn the back stories of each of the characters and about previous interactions they’ve had with each other which have caused underlying pain and sadness between them all. As the film progresses, the audience is able to see how the kids are able to relate to each other through talking about their home lives, the social stresses they all experience, and their academic concerns. Ultimately, the five characters are able to build bridges between each other, however as the film concludes, the strength of those bridges are questioned leaving the audience slightly in question.
Revisiting this film years after I first saw it reminded me of how poignant and relatable Hughes’ film really is. At every age, The Breakfast Club seems to resonate with people as it is easy to implement oneself into the various characters. Perhaps you may only relate to one of the five kids, but more often than not I think people are able to find a piece of themselves within each of the five-the princess, the jock, the brain, the rebel, and the basket case. The feelings and experiences the characters go through are still relevant today, 32 years after it was released. Maybe that is what makes a good film, the ability to resonate with people of all ages through its timeless lessons and wisdom. So am I once again addicted to The Breakfast Club? No not exactly, but I’ve decided to watch it annually to remind myself of its relatable nature, and I’d recommend the same for anyone else interested in classic 1980s films. I think this will be one that will stay with you in the days that follow after watching it.