The Breakfast Club

TThe Breakfast Club is one of the 80’s most treasured movies, in which the characters come of age by gaining the maturity to look beyond stereotypes.  Initially they have nothing in common, which is painfully obvious due to the awkwardness and distance between them.  By the end of the film, however, they have grown to appreciate that they are more similar than they thought, and have overcome the stereotypes that previously defined them.

The most significant transformation occurs in the scene in which the five teenagers are having a discussion which quickly becomes serious, prompting each of them to confess personal details of their lives.

The aspects of film form allow us to see their changing perceptions of each other and their overcoming of the stereotypes that previously defined them.     

The cinematography and editing in this scene allows us to focus on the emotions of the characters.  The initial establishing shot shows the group sitting together, framed by the walls of the library (see fig 1).

Fig. 1. 'The Breakfast Club' sit in the library discussing their secrets; still taken from The Breakfast Club

The fact that they are all grouped together in a small space, with the entire expanse of the library visible behind them, illustrates their desire to spend time together, to get to know each other.

 Throughout the scene, close ups and medium close ups are used, “indicating nuances of the characters feelings or thoughts” (Corrigan and White 109), as can be seen when Andrew is confessing his hatred for his father (see fig 2).

Fig. 2. Andrew confesses his hatred for his father; "The Breakfast Club (1985) - Andrew Clark about his father"; 6 Sep. 2012; YouTube; Web video; 20 April 2015.

 We initially see a medium close up of his face, and the camera gradually tracks around to his other side, maintaining the same distance from his face the whole time.  This very long take allows us to see the full range of emotions he is going through, and to focus on nothing but him.  As he comes to the end of his speech, successive cuts to each of the others convey their reactions; their tears and covered faces portray not pity but empathy, and their guilt from having categorised him like all of the others.

The Mise-en-scène in this scene also contributes to the depiction of the teenagers’ changing attitudes.  The costumes and make up worn by each actor are representative of the ‘group’ they belong to (see fig 3).

Fig. 3.  This still taken from The Breakfast Club shows how the costumes reflect the characters.

 A description of their costumes can be seen on this fashion blog. 

This costuming contrasts with other elements of mise-en-scène to show the development of their perceptions.  Although their outfits separate them into their stereotypical groups, the social blocking “accentuate[s] relations between them” (Corrigan and White 76) indicating their closeness-throughout the whole scene they are in one group, even though their clothing does not reflect it, and they remain this way.  This suggests a desire to get to know the others, and to truly understand them.  The Naturalistic acting performance shows the actors “fully and naturally [embodying their roles] in order to communicate that characters essential self” (Corrigan and White 75). This also contributes to the sense of closeness, as we can see the emotions in their eyes, indicating their connection to the others and their realisation that they are not that different-and that none of them are as carefree as they have made out.

These elements of film form successfully come together to illustrate each character’s transformation in this scene.  In seeing this, it is impossible to deny that The Breakfast Club is a prime example of a coming of age film.

Works Cited
Corrigan, Timothy and Patricia White.  The Film Experience: An introduction. 3^rd ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2012. Print.


Ernst, Katrina. “Cinemode: The Uniforms of The Breakfast Club”. On This Day in Fashion.  15 Feb 2011.  Web. 18 April 2015. <http://onthisdayinfashion.com/?p=11203>


The Breakfast Club.  Dir. John Hughes. A&M films; Channel Productions, 1985. Film.