False Identity In Breaking Away

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False fantasies: The perception of Dave’s life throughout Breaking Away
In the movie Breaking Away, the conviction of false identities through Dave Stohler’s life validates the perception that not everything appears to be what it is. Dave’s life is a strange and unusual life compared to most, while most kids his age go to college, Dave spends most of his time biking and fantasizing about his dream Italian family, which is the result of him being considered an outcast by most of his peers. Dave and his father, Ray, do not see eye to eye on anything, while Dave dreams of a perfect loving family, Ray just wants his son to act normal and live in reality. Yet, this Italian dream family is an escape for Dave from his real cutter family which demonstrates …show more content…

When Dave meets this girl and she ask for his name he is too embarrassed to say his real name and admit he is a cutter so he uses his, passionate and charming Italian persona to sway her. By using this false persona it verifies that it is a disgrace to be a cutter and Dave knows it. While he still acts Italian no matter where he is, the way he acts as an Italian around Katie changes. He displays a much more romantic and affectionate side toward her. Demonstrating that love makes people do crazy things, even if that means people changing their ways. The false persona Dave acts as in the beginning of the movie would never serenade someone to display his affection for someone. Yet, after meeting Katie he dropped his first false identity and created a new one to woo her. His persuasive and hypnotic charm, makes her start to truly have feelings for Dave due to his, delightful and charismatic false …show more content…

Throughout the rugged and cruel terrain of the Italian race, Dave moves his way up through the crowd of racers to meet up with the Cinzanos. Once Dave meets up with the Cinzanos during the race, his dreams are fulfill making him immensely happy which is seen on his, gigantic crescent shaped smile. The Cinzanos seem as a pleasant and friendly group allowing Dave to go ahead of them, until they catch back up to him only to shift the gears of his bike. Showing that the Cinzanos do not want another member of their group, but Dave just thinks they are giving him a hard time until they force him of the terrain. The look in Dave’s eyes after the forceful and rude act of running him off the terrain shows that he has a clearer view of life. After the horrendous incident during the Italian race, Dave changes. He stops acting Italian and starts acting like a cutter. He does this because he learns that everything isn’t what it appears to be and realizes that he should be proud to be a cutter, and that is why he tells Katie who he actually is even though he knows it will end

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