Photo by Cornelia Ng on Unsplash
Breakfast at Tiffany’s dazzles with charming love story
By Batoul Achy & Seidet Segura
Columnists
This is the fourth installment of Movie Night with Batoul & Seidet, a monthly series in which Batoul Achy and Seidet Segura will collaborate on and taking turns writing classic movie reviews from a modern perspective.
You won’t be able to take your eyes off Breakfast at Tiffany’s! The 1961 film is strengthened by the aesthetic of it overall, the love story between Paul and Holly, and its humor. On the other hand, the racist stereotype towards Asians and the weird relationship between Paul and Holly at first glance is what weakens the movie. In general, Breakfast at Tiffany’s is a film that many admire, even to this day.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s features a woman named Holly Golightly, whose job was to accompany and even marry the rich just for their wealth. She eventually meets her neighbor, Paul Varjak, at their New York apartment complex. Paul is an aspiring writer who married a rich, older woman in order to support himself. Paul and Holly had a secret affair. Over the course of their relationship, the two become closer than ever. This leads Paul to be head over heels for Holly, even when she was struggling to figure out what she wanted. Paul would end up divorcing his wife to be together with Holly.
Between Holly and Paul, there was an adorable romance. Even though Paul didn’t go about ending his marriage the right way, his wife was just using him for status. Holly and Paul fit better together. In the beginning, Holly focused on her job. never wanting something forever. Meanwhile, Paul was in an unhappy marriage only for the money and wanted something more. Holly was involved with many men, and through it all Paul remained by her side. For example, when Holly suspiciously disappeared, Paul searched everywhere for her and when he found her he was ecstatic. Towards the end of the film Holly finally found what she was looking for: a lasting, loving relationship with Paul. The cute, romantic story between them really keeps viewers interested, especially in seeing the outcome of their relationship.
While their relationship was cute, there were some weird scenes. During the movie, Holly repeatedly kept calling Paul, “Fred,” who is Holly’s brother. Also, in the beginning she said Paul resembles Fred. It was disturbing that Holly thought of him as similar to her brother when their relationship was romantic. The relationship also got serious too quickly. Issues like these were off-putting for the viewers.
The aesthetic of Breakfast at Tiffany’s was classy and timeless. Holly’s iconic fashion shines throughout the movie. Her bougie outfits and accessories still impact the fashion industry today, with her glossy pearls and lovely hats remaining popular. People dress up as her for Halloween or replicate her outfits at other times during the year. Holly’s style of speaking was elegant and soft-spoken. The scenery in the film is lavish. There was a luxurious, wholesome vibe, especially considering the adorable cat Holly owned named, simply, Cat.
However, the purpose of the movie was a bit difficult to understand at first. When viewers first watch the movie, some of the early scenes may seem unnecessary. As the film goes on, the viewers then begin to get why those scenes were a part of the movie. To give an example, there was a scene in the beginning of the film where Holly threw a party in her apartment inviting tons of people. At first, the audience may have been confused at the purpose of adding this scene where they’re just partying and having a good time. Later on, it became clear the motive for the party scene was to show how Holly met many wealthy men who she desired to marry. The filmmakers could have done a better job at making the scenes more understandable earlier.
In the apartment complex, Holly has a neighbor on the upper level named Mr. Yunioshi who appears to be Asian. He is played by a white actor named Mickey Rooney whose makeup and the way he talks could be insensitive toward Asians. In the history of cinema, there have been many stereotypes mocking people of color. This can make the audience uncomfortable because it can take them back to when people of color were disrespected in movies.
In a scene near the end, Holly and Paul return back to her apartment and she gets arrested because of Mr. Yunioshi’s snitching problem. She poses in front of the cameras outside the courthouse as if she’s literally not going to sleep in a cell for the night. A good sense of humor was definitely included in this movie.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s was a fantastic movie with its aesthetic, romance and humor. It brought much satisfaction to the audience. The film was exquisite when it came to displaying the love story between Holly and Paul. Even though the movie had great scenes, it was hard to tell why they were there before realizing the purpose of them. This movie also can leave a negative impact on the audience since it includes racism. In the end, Breakfast at Tiffany’s was a remarkable movie with its interesting storytelling and vibe.