When cinema of the 1980s is the topic of conversation, undoubtedly, “The Breakfast Club” is part, if not the centerpiece, of the discussion. Even 30 years later, John Hughes’ terrific coming-of-age dramedy is relevant, perhaps not in fashion (though I’ve seen my fair share of Judd Nelson and Ally Sheedy lookalikes lately), but certainly in the analysis of displaced adolescent identities and generational gaps.
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This brief but informative video from Nick Olshansky at The Thought Lab explores the identity crises of characters in “The Breakfast Club” (the brain, the athlete, the criminal, the princess, and the omnipresent nerd), and how, despite their phony behavior and ambiguous carriages, the pentad have a lot more in common than they would’ve believed. Olshansky discusses the importance of the principal (an unforgettably authoritative Paul Gleason), and how he is “the driving force” behind pushing these misfits towards understanding themselves and shedding the faux personas that once safeguarded their self-consciousness.
“The Breakfast Club,” in all its rebellious glory, is an undeniable classic. Watch below.
