Film Studies

The Breakfast Club

Five high school students from different walks of life endure a Saturday detention under a power-hungry teacher (Paul Gleason). The disparate group includes rebel John (Judd Nelson), princess Claire (Molly Ringwald), outcast Allison (Ally Sheedy), brainy Brian (Anthony Michael Hall) and Andrew (Emilio Estevez), the jock. Each has a chance to tell his or her story, making the others see them a little differently -- and when the day ends, they question whether school will ever be the same.

In this film, the first of five studies, we will see the effect of parenting and how it relates to our study of personality. Mr. Allaire defines this film as a masterpiece in bad parenting.

King of Comedy

Rupert Pupkin (Robert De Niro) is a failure in life but a celebrity in his own mind, hosting an imaginary talk show in his mother's basement. When he meets actual talk show host Jerry Langford (Jerry Lewis), he's convinced it will provide his big break, but Langford isn't interested in the would-be comedian. Rupert stops at nothing to reach his goals, and the twists and turns that he initiates make the viewer wonder what ambition can achieve.

In this film, we will begin to see the impact of mental illness precipitated by family dysfunction and how important the parental structure truly is.

Sybil

The multiple award-winning, made-for-TV movie Sybil was based on the book by Flora Rheta Schreiber. Sally Field won an Emmy for her portrayal of the title character, a substitute teacher in New York who has developed multiple personality disorder (now known as Dissociative Identity Disorder). As a coping mechanism to deal with the abuse she suffered at the hands of her mother, Hattie (Martine Bartlett), Sybil created separate personalities: aggressive Peggy, suicidal Marcia, outgoing Vanessa, and several others. Joanne Woodward plays Dr. Cornelia Wilbur, the psychiatrist who diagnoses Sybil and helps her to overcome her condition.

We see the serious nature of mental illness in this film, and the potential effect of psychiatric treatment. It is our most in-depth film study of the semester.

Temple Grandin

Biopic of Temple Grandin, an autistic woman who overcame the limitations imposed on her by her condition to become a Ph.D. and expert in the field of animal husbandry. She did not speak until age four and had difficulty right through high school, mostly in dealing with people. She is noted for her humane design for the treatment of cattle in processing plants, which have been the subject of several books and won an award from PETA. Today, she is a professor at Colorado State University and well-known speaker on autism and animal handling.

In an era when special education for special needs children did not exist, Temple Grandin, with the help of her determined mother, burst through all barriers to become a leader in her field. She is truly an inspiring woman and academic.

Pursuit of Happyness

Will Smith stars in this moving tale inspired by the true story of Chris Gardner, a San Francisco salesman struggling to build a future for himself and his 5-year-old son Christopher (Jaden Smith). When his girlfriend Linda (Thandie Newton) walks out, Chris is left to raise Christopher on his own. Chris' determination finally pays off when he lands an unpaid internship in a brutally competitive stockbroker-training program, where only one in twenty interns will make the cut. But without a salary, Chris and his son are evicted from their apartment and are forced to sleep on the streets, in homeless shelters and even behind the locked doors of a metro station bathroom. With self-confidence and the love and trust of his son, Chris Gardner rises above his obstacles to become a Wall Street legend.

In this final film, we see the positive effects of loving parents and how one can overcome great obstacles, persevere, and become successful.