A young man from a working-class family in Bloomington, Christopher Dennis, has a passion for Italy and cycling while spending time with his friends—referred to as “cutters”—played by Dennis Quaid, Jackie Earle Haley, and Daniel Stern. He navigates relationships with his parents, portrayed by Paul Dooley and Barbara Barrie, and pursues a romance with Robyn Douglass. The narrative builds toward the Little 500 bicycle race at Indiana University. “Breaking Away,” released in 1979, smartly prioritizes character development over showcasing cycling itself; it shares similarities with “Dead Poets Society” from the 1980s. It's a coming-of-age story that incorporates humorous moments but isn’t really a comedy, despite how some have categorized it. The film explores the challenges faced by young people as they contemplate their futures immediately after finishing high school and consider what direction their lives will take. I found myself connecting with this because when I was 19, I spent an entire summer cycling through various areas. The longest single ride I managed was 60 miles. I began to feel pretty confident in my abilities until I encountered another cyclist the following day who was traveling across multiple states. The film’s writer attended Indiana University and used his own experiences there as inspiration for the story. The main character is based on David K. Blase, someone with a strong interest in Italy who led his team to win the Little 500. The movie has a runtime of 1 hour and 41 minutes and was filmed in Bloomington, Indiana, along with a stretch of highway 37 located just south of there. GRADE: B

Source on TMDB