Lingvistov Film Discussion: Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)

Breakfast at Tiffany's

“Breakfast at Tiffany's” is a 1961 American romantic comedy film starring Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard. The film is loosely based on the novella "Breakfast at Tiffany's" by Truman Capote.

ex. 1 Listen to the small audio biography of Audrey Hepburn and complete:

name: Audrey Hepburn

born in 19 ____

after World War II studied ballet in ____

starred in a London theatre in 19 ____

most famous movie: "Roman ____"

won an Oscar for best ____

died in 19 ____

Listen again and decide if the statements are true or false.

The American Film Institute considered Audrey Hepburn to be the greatest actress of all time.
Audrey Hepburn became a fashion and cultural icon.
Audrey Hepburn was born in England.
Audrey had an elder sister.
Her mother was a Dutch aristocrat.
Audrey Hepburn was educated at a private school in France.
The most traumatic moment of her life was when her father died.
She didn't become a ballerina because she was too tall.
Audrey Hepburn was one of Hollywood's most successful stars.
She founded UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund).

Match the words from the article on the left with their synonyms on the right.

Paragraphs 1 and 2

considered schooled

of all time wonderful

magnificent heartbreaking

aristocrat believed

educated noblewoman

traumatic ever

Paragraphs 3 and 4

went into masterpiece

publicity phrase

classic stardom

fame entered

term is still

remains media attention

ex. 2 Tell everything you know and remember about these characters from the film

- Holly Golightly

- Paul Varjak

- Mrs. Emily Eustace "2E" Failenson

- Doc Golightly

ex. 3 Answer the questions

Why is this film called "Breakfast at Tiffany's"?
Answer the questions about Holly: How old is she? Was she happy when she was a child? What does she do for a job? Does she like parties? Does she break the law and if so, how?
If you could write an alternate ending for the film, what would it be and why?
How might our perception of Holly be different if the film was told from her point of view?
Which detail of Holly's life do you particularly wish you knew more about? Why?
Which secondary character do you think is most important to the story. Why?
What do you think of Paul’s relationship/friendship with Holly? How does Paul’s friendship with Holly alter after Doc’s arrival?

ex. 4 Recall the situations these quotations were uttered in

Holly Golightly: I'm like cat here, a no-name slob. We belong to nobody, and nobody belongs to us. We don't even belong to each other.

Paul Varjak: You know what's wrong with you, Miss Whoever-You-Are? You're chicken, you've got no guts. You're afraid to stick out your chin and say, "Okay, life's a fact, people do fall in love, people do belong to each other, because that's the only chance anybody's got for real happiness." You call yourself a free spirit, a wild thing, and you're terrified somebody's going to stick you in a cage. Well, baby, you're already in that cage. You built it yourself. And it's not bounded in the west by Tulip, Texas, or in the east by Somaliland. It's wherever you go. Because no matter where you run, you just end up running into yourself.

Holly Golightly: Anyone who ever gave you confidence, you owe them a lot.

Holly Golightly: What do you do, anyway?

Paul Varjak: I'm a writer, I guess.

Holly Golightly: You guess? Don't you know?

Paul Varjak: OK, positive statement. Ringing affirmative. I'm a writer.

Holly Golightly: I'll never get used to anything. Anybody that does, they might as well be dead.

Holly Golightly: He's all right! Aren't you, cat? Poor cat! Poor slob! Poor slob without a name! The way I see it I haven't got the right to give him one. We don't belong to each other. We just took up one day by the river. I don't want to own anything until I find a place where me and things go together. I'm not sure where that is but I know what it is like. It's like Tiffany's.

Paul Varjak: Tiffany's? You mean the jewelry store.

Holly Golightly: That's right. I'm just CRAZY about Tiffany's!

Paul Varjak: And I always heard people in New York never get to know their neighbors.

Breakfast at Tiffany's Film