It’s hard to believe that February 2020 will mark the 35th anniversary of the Breakfast Club’s release. This eighties film introduced five teenagers from five distinct social classes. An athlete, brain, loner, prom queen and rebel are forced to spend an entire Saturday together in detention. This motley crew clashes initially as stereotypes prevent each from opening up about who these students really are outside of school.
When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent, Proverbs 10:19.
In today’s political climate, the Breakfast Club would never occur. Three white boys and two white girls is not an inclusive representation of modern culture. Meanwhile, skeptics would be turned off by white privilege, offended by anti Me Too Movement messages and disappointed from the lack of diversity. When symbolism becomes more important than the substance of a movie, meaning and purpose get lost.
Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends, Proverbs 17:9.
During an eighties weekend on AMC, I watched the Breakfast Club from beginning to end for the first time in years. Beyond the plot of this classic film, I was struck by the courage it takes to get beneath surface level conversation. Looking back on my own years in high school, I rarely took the time to fight through the BS. I shied away from unpleasant encounters, afraid of what I may find or what others might recognize about me. If you want to go beyond the breakfast club, press on until you discover what makes someone behave the way they do.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 