*Spolier Alert: For those who haven’t watched the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s, I highly recommend you do so. 1. It’s a beautiful film. 2. You might not understand what I’m writing about without slight a background knowledge of the film.
Those who know me well, know that one thing I pride myself on is that I was named Tiffany after the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s.* My mother watched the film, years after the initial release, when she was a teenager in Korea. I believe that my mother watched with the mindset that the United States of America is the land the provides the opportunity for one to live the American Dream. And the scene that (I believe) touched her the most was when Holly and Paul were in Tiffany jewelry store. Wanting to purchase something from the brand, the two looked around for an item that would fit their budget of $10. Unfortunately, not very many objects fit their budget. In fact, only one: a sterling silver telephone dialer (which would be useless because Holly doesn’t use her telephone anyways). So Paul comes up with an idea to engrave a ring that he received as a prize from a box of Cracker Jacks. Holly, being slightly hesitant, asks if it would be beneath Tiffany’s to engrave the ring, to which the salesman replies,”Tiffany’s is very understanding.”**
When I first found out that I was named after Breakfast at Tiffany’s, I was already enamored with the romanticized stills and captions from the film, not having watched it at all, and not really understanding the meaning of the film. When I first really watched the movie, I was a sophomore in high school. My romanticized idea of Holly Golightly as a beautiful and chic woman living in New York City, quickly changed into a young lady who ran away from her responsibilities, a young lady who held a false sense of confidence, when in reality, she was frightened and insecure. The original perception I had of the film was filled with romanticized ideas that were passed by others who also romanticized the movie as just another love story.
However, I’ve recently watched the film again, and unfortunately my perception of Holly hasn’t changed. She’s still immature, scared, and insecure. But who isn’t at her age? She might not be the best role model, romanticized or not, but she’s relatable as a human being who is trying to find her place in this world. And I think I’ve realized this now, because our personalities align. I’m still a child pretending to handle adult responsibilities, and with that I’m still scared and insecure about who I am as a person, and how my future will be, including my career.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s is a beautiful film (other than the racist role of Mickey Rooney as a stereotypical Japanese man). The shots of the film are done so well, and Hubert de Givenchy personally designed the iconic black dress for Audrey Hepburn. This film can be inspirational in so many ways, just like it was for my mother. But the characters, such as Holly Golightly and even Paul Varjak, do not have the best morals as role models. Though, that’s not to say that we can’t relate and learn from their mistakes.
Films are stories, and like I learned in AP Language, all stories can be analyzed with different results based on perspective, background, and culture. What I think of this film can be drastically different from yours. Who’s to say who’s right or wrong?
Anyways, here’s Audrey being a babe and singing Moon River (another favorite scene).
Cheers, and to an adventurous new year.
*I was named Tiffany to become a classy and elegant lady, which is funny (and ironic) because just like Holly, I feel like I’m pretending/trying to be.
**This is personally one of my favorite scenes of the film.
