Film Independent’s screening of “The Breakfast Club” reminds us that this movie transcends time and space
This past Saturday, I spent my night in a theater located on the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s campus. I was there to see Film Independent at LACMA’s screening of The Breakfast Club, which would feature live music played by Jack Antonoff (of Bleachers) and his talented musical companions. Not gonna lie — it was the poster that sold me, convincing me that this is how I’d want to spend a chunk of my weekend:
Since I’ve never watched a movie accompanied with live music, I was dubious, not sure how it would play out. I was afraid that one would interfere with the other, or that the live music would change how I viewed one of my favorite movies. And the latter did happen, but in the best way.
Antonoff & Co.’s music beautifully merged with the movie, taking The Breakfast Club on a journey through time and bringing it to the here and now. It proved that this 1985 movie withstands the test of time, as feeling like an outsider is a universal experience, no matter how old you are, or what era you most identify with. In other words, this film reminds us that — whether its 1985 or 2017 — we can easily see ourselves in the five main characters. After all, as Brian writes in his essay to Mr. Vernon,
"[W]hat we found out is that each one of us is a brain ... and an athlete ... and a basket case ... a princess ... and a criminal..."
Though many of us are drawn to quizzes along the lines of “Which Breakfast Club character are you at heart?”, this particular screening was a reminder that no matter who we are or how much time flies, we are all members of The Breakfast Club. In each of us, there’s a student who aims to please, a princess who enjoys the finer things in life, a basket case who has trouble coping with the ways of the world, an athlete who feels pressured to be #1, and a rebel who wants to live life on their own terms. Though we may not take on these personas all at once, each of us can relate to at least one of the characters at different points in our lives. This particular screening emphasized this transcendence best, blending the ’80s world with music of the present.
Oh! And Carly Rae Jepsen was there, so that was pretty cool.
With all of this in mind, we can’t wait to see what else Film Independent brings to LACMA in the future.
