The Oscar Project
Best coming of age film
I’ve never really been a huge fan of “coming of age” films, but there are some that just transcend time. From the moment the odd cast of characters enters Shermer High School on that fateful Saturday morning, you get the feeling that things are going to get a little crazy. It’s hard to find a more different mix of characters to throw into a melting pot of all-day detention. However, with the passage of over 35 years since its release, I feel like there has to be a bit of a discussion of how the film is a product of its time.
First off, if the film were made today, there would be a strong push to include students from different ethnic backgrounds. I would challenge anyone ever thinking of remaking this film to challenge the social “norms” that many people think of. Don’t make the nerdy kid of Asian descent. Make the African American girl the nerd, and the Korean kid is the jock. Today’s Breakfast Club would certainly have someone who is transgender or homosexual and while the original had “the basket case” in Ally Sheedy, there would most certainly be some inclusion of someone struggling with suicide or more serious mental illness. But back to the original film. I think the film works as well as it does because the characters are so different. They all come from different cliques. Their family situations are all different. Each one is in detention for a different reason. However, once they set their differences aside and start to talk to one another like civilized humans, they discover they aren’t so different after all. I think we could all take a lesson from the group here and spend more time listening to those who we think are so different from us before passing judgement. What is your favorite coming of age film? Leave a comment below.
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AuthorI'm just a film buff who wants to watch great movies. Where else to find the best, than the list of those nominated by the Academy each year? Archives
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