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“Breaking Away” a timeless American coming-of-age movie, remains a cycling classic.

by: Gary Robinson, editor-Colorado Avid Cyclist
I had just graduated high school 1979, I remember it as a time of political and economic turmoil.  The inflation rate was 12% and its release was 2 days prior to President Jimmy Carter’s “Crisis in Confidence” to the American people.  Tensions were high, and we were on the eve of the Iranian Hostage Crisis.  
 
With the Winter Olympics on the horizon, there was some optimism that we might have a chance against the Russians in Hockey.  I was able to watch the tryouts for the ’80 “Miracle on Ice” team that summer at the Broadmoor World Arena during the Sports Festival. 
 
Also at the Broadmoor was the “Old Movie Theater,” whichearly years in July of that year Breaking Away was first showing in Colorado Springs.  As a cyclist at the time, I was all in.  I was passionate about riding, and anything to do with cycling, I would watch.  The movie was more that I ever expected.  It was NOT just movie about a bike race.  It was much more. 
 
Breaking Away is a coming of age comedy-drama produced and directed by Peter Yates and written by Steve Tesich, at a time when the nation was thirsty for a movie that captured more than just sporting achievement, we were all looking for something that would make us look inward, and touch our heart, as well as our funny bone. 
 
The story follows four working-class friends—Dave (Dennis breaking away groupChristopher), Mike (Dennis Quaid), Cyril (Daniel Stern), and Moocher (Jackie Earle Haley)—known as “Cutters,” a term referring to the local stonecutting industry.  (That term was invented for the film because the real-world pejorative “stonies” was deemed at the time unusable for its perceived link to marijuana.)
 
Throughout the movie, they grapple with their uncertain futures while feeling overshadowed by the affluent college students from the nearby Indiana University. Dave, the dreamer of the group, becomes obsessed with Italian cycling culture, adopting a faux Italian persona as he seeks to escape the confines of his small-town life.
 
The movie is without some romantic comedy tossed in.  Dave develops a crush on a university student named Katherine and masquerades as an Italian exchange student tobreaking away serinade romance her. One evening, he serenades “Caterina” outside her sorority house by singing Friedrich von Flotow‘s aria M Apparì Tutt’ Amor, with Cyril providing guitar accompaniment. 
 
The film’s heart lies in its exploration of relationships—between friends, family, and rivals. Dave’s relationship with his father (Paul Dooley), a practical and skeptical used-car salesman, is particularly poignant, as it reflects the generational divide and the universal struggle of parents and children to understand one another.
 
ending breaking awayThe climax of Breaking Away centers around the Little 500, a real-life bicycle race at Indiana University. The race becomes a metaphor for overcoming societal divisions and personal limitations, culminating in an exhilarating and emotional finish that underscores the film’s themes of perseverance and unity.
 
Praised for its heartfelt performances, witty dialogue, and authentic portrayal of small-town life, Breaking Away earned critical acclaim, including an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay (Steve Tesich) and nominations for Best Picture and Best Director. Its relatable themes and genuine characters continue to strike a chord with audiences, making it a beloved classic in American cinema.
 
Breaking Away won the 1979 Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Tesich, and received nominations in four other categories, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress (Barbara Barrie). It also won the 1979 Golden Globe Award for Best Film (Comedy or Musical) and received nominations in three other Golden Globe categories.The film was ranked eighth on the List of America’s 100 Most Inspiring Movies compiled by the American Film Institute (AFI) in 2006. In June 2008, the AFI also announced its 10 Top 10—the best ten films in ten classic American film genres—after it polled over 1,500 people from the creative community. In that poll Breaking Away ranked as the eighth best film in the sports genre
 
With its blend of humor, drama, and inspiration, Breaking Away is a testament to the power of storytelling that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring bonds of friendship.  Over the last 45 years, I have seen more than my share of cycling movies, but Breaking Away will always be my favorite.  It was the perfect movie at the perfect time in my life, and for others. That it is why it is still considered one of the best “sports” movies of all time, even though it is really about much more.  
by: Gary Robinson, editor, Colorado Avid Cyclist

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