Streaming A “Classic”

By JENNA MEAD

GUEST WRITER

In an attempt to take the most productive break from your studies, I would like to recommend the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1968) to you for your viewing pleasure (available for streaming on Netflix). I came to watch the film recently, as I have taken to watching “classic” movies over reruns of The Office in hopes that I might learn something along the way. In my opinion, when the term “classic” is used in a group conversation, a wave of confusion  occurs. Nobody wants to be the one who says, “What’s that movie even about?” or gasp “I’ve never seen that movie before, what’s the big deal?” Like any good SLU kid, I admit what I do not know and I am open to trying new things. 

The film Breakfast at Tiffany’s is based off a book written Truman Capote (yup, the In Cold Blood guy). The film follows Holly Gologhtly, played by Audrey Hepburn, as she lives the life she is not quite sure she is happy with in mid-Manhattan. As I watched, I, the unemployed college student that I am, kept asking, “How does she afford this?” Without a real job or anyone else seeming to support her,  living in NYC does not seem plausible. The film shows some of the different tactics for funding a New York City living, but Holly seems far from being able to balance a budget or have any real direction for herself. Despite this, she makes being a “mess” seem pretty fabulous (and this girl can really network). If it all seems fake,  keep in mind that it is a movie. The film is filled with real questions for the audience, and becomes a beautiful film entirely. A quote from Holly’s love interest Paul Varjak, played by George Peppard, speaks to one of many philosophical ideas of the movie, “You call yourself a free spirit, a “wild thing,” and you’re terrified somebody’s going to stick you in a cage. Well baby, you’re already in that cage. You built it yourself…No matter where you run, you just end up running into yourself.”

Just like that, what you thought was a guilty pleasure chick-flick has actually sparked deep thought about human agency. This is not the only good quote you will witness as you watch Breakfast at Tiffany’s, but hopefully it is enough to make sure you stream this “oldie but goodie” and find the others. Soon your wall will be plastered with Audrey Hepburn quotes, and you will find yourself yelling “CAT!” every time it rains.

As for the whole “Breakfast” part, if you do not watch the film, you will never understand it and go on  thinking that Tiffany’s Jewelers in New York has a great egg sandwich. Oh, and that song, you will finally “get it”. So stop pretending to be someone you are not, nodding along when Blair Waldorf says pretty much anything, and turn on a true “Classic.”

*Side effects include an unhealthy worshipping of Audrey Hepburn, increased consumption of croissants, unrealistic expectations for love, trips to the county jail, an appreciation for the finer things in life, and spending your days doing things you have never done before.