Shot in and around Bloomington and the IU campus, Breaking Away takes the viewer on a tour of 1979 Bloomington as a story full of comedy, excitement, and pathos unfolds against locations both familiar and surprising for current residents. Much like the scenery, the story captures a Bloomington both deeply familiar and intriguingly distant. Dave, along with his friends Cyril, Moocher, and Mike, has just graduated from high school. As the four friends search for their next steps in life, they struggle with the divide between the townies - or “cutters” - and the university students. Ignoring the pressure to get a steady job, Dave pursues his obsession with bike racing, going to great lengths to emulate his Italian cycling heroes and impress his crush, an IU student - all to the annoyance of his friends and parents. The film’s climactic depiction of the Little 500 race is a must-see! Breaking Away is a 1979 American coming-of-age comedy produced and directed by Peter Yates and written by Steve Tesich, an alumnus of Indiana University Bloomington. Breaking Away won the 1979 Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, and received nominations in four other categories, including Best Picture. It also won the 1979 Golden Globe Award for Best Film (Comedy or Musical), and received nominations in three other Golden Globe categories. As the film's young lead, Dennis Christopher won the 1979 BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer and the 1979 Young Artist Award for Best Juvenile Actor, as well as receiving a Golden Globe nomination for New Star of the Year. The film is ranked eighth on the List of America's 100 Most Inspiring Movies compiled by the American Film Institute (AFI) in 2006. Release date: 1979 Run time: 1 hr 41 min MPAA rating: PG Screening format: DCP This film is part of the Sports IN Film Series: Friday, August 16 - Breaking Away Saturday, August 17 - Hoosiers Sunday, August 18 - Rudy
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