I wrote last week that “Life itself is just a high school from a John Hughes screenplay.” Well, maybe not. But this one day in the life of Ferris Bueller provides the anti-hero rallying cry of everyone everywhere who just needs a break.
Anyway, hello, welcome, and thank you for stopping by. For new visitors, here’s what this situation is all about:
With Savor the View, we’ll watch, think, and talk about movies and the things that matter. A special welcome and thanks to our regular crew!
Each Monday, I share brief, spoiler-free remarks and questions to frame viewing a movie on our own.
Each Thursday, I share post-viewing questions to poke at the issues, ideas, quandaries, inspirations...whatever...that movie might have summoned (spoilers, ahoy!).
Paid subscribers can talk it all out in a weekly Discussion Thread.
General thoughts?
The universal/general
What kinds of relationships happen here – family, friends, etc. – and what do you make of them? Is anyone “good” or “bad” (or a mix of both) for anyone else? How so?
There are actually some Big Themes at play in this story. What is freedom? Do responsibility and accountability fit in anywhere? Is it self-centered to disregard the “-isms?” Is fun always a trade-off – at the expense of someone or something else?
The specific/unique
John Hughes selected city excursions for the movie that either meant a lot to him when growing up in the area or just showcased Chicago in some memorable way. What does each site mean to the characters? What does each site do for you? What happens to Cameron (Alan Ruck) at the Art Institute of Chicago?
Ferris (Matthew Broderick) somehow ends up as this great unifier of the peoples of Chicago. How does that happen? Do you buy it? Is he, in fact, a “righteous dude?”
Why is no one talking about those dudes and their hats at the Sears Tower (now called the Willis Tower)?
The viewer is always present
How do you feel about Ferris? Does he take things too far? Is he a hero or an anti-hero?
How do you feel about Jeanie Bueller (Jennifer Grey)? Does she get a fair shake in this story?
This is a much-quoted film. For me, I especially love Ed Rooney’s (Jeffrey Jones) comment, “So that’s how it is in their family.” Anything particularly stick with you?
Worthwhile Reads
https://goldenglobes.com/articles/ferris-buellers-day-exuberantly-channels-summer-vacation-vibes/
Next Week’s Movie?
For June – the month of “Summer Camp” – Mean Girls (2004)
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