Film Review: Breaking Away (1979)

Everyone, once in a while, wishes to be someone else. Some actually put certain effort to be someone else, like the protagonist of Breaking Away, 1979 sports comedy directed by Peter Yates. Dave Stohler (played by Dennis Christopher) is a recent high school graduate from Bloomington, Indiana who spends one last carefree summer before having to face uncertain future and responsibilities of adulthood. What helps Dave cope is his cycling talent, which led him to develop not only deep appreciation for all things Italian, but also alternate identity based on Italian fashion, cuisine and even speaking with thick Italian accent. Although this frustrates his conservative blue-collar father Ray (played by Paul Dooley), his newly found "Italian" identity helps him start romance with Katherine (played by Robyn Douglass), beautiful Indiana University coed. The romance is complicated with the constant tensions between the students one side and locals whom students look down and call "cutters". Dave's "cutter" friends often get into trouble, but in the end they decide to take upon arrogant students as a team in spectacular cycling race.

Made with relatively small budget, Breaking Away was a surprise hit at the box office and ultimately won "Oscar" for its scriptwriter Steve Tesich. This should be best explained by its cheerful tone, which was so at odds with general bleakness and hopelessness of Carter's America. Tesich, who had arrived to America as immigrant in his teenage years, was quite observant of some of the facts of life in Middle America natives would usually ignore and he has intelligently built the script around it. The plot takes place in small town, but a small town which is characterised by sharp class conflict – on one hand are blue collar locals and their sons, and on another are students who are in financially advantageous position. Breaking Away resolves this conflict in predictably cliched way through the epic sports event in the end, but, before the film reaches that point, we are able to see many interesting characters and their interactions.

Dennis Christopher (who is, ironically, half-Italian in real life) shines in his role and it is strange that his career didn't advance much in further years. That can't be said for the actors playing his friends – Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern and Jackie Earle Haley – who would later become stars or formidable character actors. But Christopher's best inteaction is with Dooley, another great character actor who very effectively plays his frustrated, but ultimately loving and understanding father. British director Peter Yates, best known for his action classic Bullitt, directs this film in quiet, minimalistic way which usually works, although a scene or two are longer than they should be. Despite the flaws, Breaking Away is one of those small, nice and unpretentious films that could bring smile on viewer's face.

RATING: 7/10 (++)

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