Ferris Bueller's Day Off Discussion Questions

Introduction

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986), directed written and co-produced by John Hughes and Tom Jacobson has claimed it’s spot as one of the best teen movie of the 80’s. The teen comedy film follows Ferris Bueller, played by Matthew Broderick, a slacker teen who fakes ill to skip school. Ferris, known as the effortlessly cool “wise guy” around school coaxes his best friend Cameron Frye and girlfriend Sloane Peterson into his plan and the three spend the day aimlessly roam the streets of Chicago. Although a 32-year-old film, it is a timeless classic and still relatable to teens and adults alike. The audience is constantly at the edge of their seats as Ferris’s cover is nearly blown multiple times throughout the film. As the audience,

we envy Ferris, we want to escape the pressures and mundanity of our everyday lives and live carefree just as he does. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is especially unique as Ferris regularly “breaks the fourth wall”, a technique in film where characters speak directly to the audience. Breaking the fourth wall enhances our experience and engages us in the story. This is what makes it so relatable as well. In these monologues, Ferris provides us with many philosophies and consistently blurs the lines between fantasy and reality.
Ferris Bueller’s Day off was the perfect coming-of-age story of its time. Watching this film in 2018 allows the audience to experience teenage life before social media, the life of teens before technology changed the way we interact and share friendships. Ferris Bueller’s Day off gives us a nostalgic glimpse of teenage life that we all wish we had. Furthermore, this film gives us hope that teenagers are capable of change and overcoming obstacles and pressures in life. This analysis will discuss how breaking the fourth wall, the use of the city, the music specifically the repeated use of the song “Danke Schoen”, and the unique characters are used to earn this film the title of a timeless classic.
Summary
As mentioned above, Ferris fakes sick to skip school and aimlessly roams Chicago with Cameron and Sloane. He is believed by his parents but his sister Jeanie, is not convinced. Ferris plans quite the operation to cover all of his bases so he doesn’t get found out. He places a mannequin attached to a pulley system in his bed, employs an automated message of his voice every time someone rings the doorbell and even hacks the school computer system. During the film we find out from Ferris himself that this day is more for the benefit of Cameron than it is for him, “I just wanted to give him a good day” he explains (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, 1985). In the beginning of the film we find Cameron actually ill in his bed refusing Ferris’s requests to join him on his outing. After much coaxing and thought from Cameron, he caves and also is convinced to take his Father’s cherry red Ferrari 250 GT out of the pristine garage space (the material item that Cameron’s father loves more than Cameron). As the community catches wind of Ferris’s illness the gossip spreads and they quickly come to his side. We watch in excitement as Ferris escapes authority many times throughout the movie. John Hughes takes us on an adventure through the city of Chicago with Ferris and company in this film. The movie is relatable to the audience as it is a teenager’s daydream, we all place ourselves in their shoes and we walk alongside the bunch to get a glimpse into freedom from life’s pressures.
Breaking the Fourth Wall
“The fourth wall” first established in the theatre is an invisible wall that separates the actor from the audience. The audience can see through this wall and the actors act as though they cannot. Many times throughout the film, Ferris “breaks” the fourth wall by speaking directly to the audience (Wikipedia, 2018). He uses this time to explain context of characters and their situations as well as offer his thought process to explain the reasoning to his actions. This speaks to Ferris’ character as he seems the type to always have to explain himself, especially to authority figures. We see this when his principal Wayne Rooney questions his authenticity. Ferris consistently keeps calm, cool, collected and treats the audience as his friends. Actors explain that breaking the fourth wall in a film helps the audience relate as they feel that the audience has the same feelings or problems (Wikipedia, 2018).
The City
Many of John Hughes’ personal experiences made it into the movie. For example, he explains in a commentary that the museum scene was close to his heart. The Art Institute in Chicago was a “safe haven” for John, a place he went to seek refuge from his life at times. There is a point in this scene that Cameron is starring at the famous pointillism painting “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte”. Cameron stares closer and closer at the child and the closer he looks at the girl, the less he sees. This is what Cameron’s character’s fears for himself, “he fears that the more you look at him, the less you see.” When you compare a pointillism painting and a film we find that they are similar art forms. John says “you don’t have any idea what you’ve made until you step back from it” (The Washington Post, 2011). This statement really broadened my appreciation for direction of film and the components that it takes to create the final product or “masterpiece”.
The Music
This movie has phenomenal music however, oddly enough, the movie was released without a soundtrack until 30 years after the film was released. The music in this film is mostly diegetic, where the characters hear the music themselves and are knowledgeable of the source of the music (Barsam & Monahan, 2016). This type of diegetic-ness brought about an added layer of entertainment as Ferris’ created his own music videos for the audience, for example when we see Ferris perform ‘Twist and Shout’ by The Beatles in the parade. It seems as though the entire city joins in, construction workers, window washers, passersby and even Ferris’s father from his high-rise office building. This is something that would probably never happen in real life, however, in my opinion, this showed how Ferris facilitated the entire city to take “the day off” and just step back from the seriousness of life, stop to enjoy their surroundings and simply have fun. The song ‘Danke Schoen’ by Wayne Newton is used repeatedly in this film in the parade scene where Ferris lip-syncs the song and again at the end where Jeanie sings it acapella. The fourth stanza of the lyrics read:
“Danke schoen, darling, danke schoen
Thank you for seeing me again
Though we go on our separate ways
Still the memory stays for always”

Danke schoen (German), translates to “thank you very much”, this song’s strong presence in the film drew me to recognize the importance of the lyrics within the context of the movie. There is a scene where Ferris breaks the fourth wall once again and tells us that this day is the last fun he may have with Cameron before they go to separate colleges. Sloane has one more year of high school left, “how do I deal with that” Ferris says to the audience. The lyrics of this song are metaphorically an ode to his friend Cameron, Sloane, the city of Chicago and the memories they have made there, especially on this day. Furthermore, a message from John Hughes himself to the city he grew up in. The music in this film makes us think if nothing else; further connects us to the sentiments of the film.
The Use of Characters
John Hughes’s use of the characters of Ferris and Cameron and their tension is what drives the action in this film.

This tension starts as soon as Ferris calls Cameron in the morning to get him out of the house. Cameron, a very complex character, with issues at home and an of lesser popularity than Ferris is conflicted between outrage and obedience to his friend. We see him in his car muttering to himself, “he’ll keep calling me, he’ll keep calling me until I come over, he’ll make me feel guilty…” (Ferris Beuller’s Day Off, 1986). He puts the key in the ignition, starts the car. He shakes his head and yanks the key out of the ignition. Then, with no warning, he starts to punch the passenger seat (Almond, 2006). This day brings anxiety to Cameron, he needs someone to take charge and make decisions for him and Ferris is more than willing to take the lead (Myers, 2014). We see Ferris desperately trying to help Cameron, he even staged the parade to become and adolescent fantasy of omnipotence expressly for his best friend in that moment. At the end of the movie after all the antics, Cameron seems calm, and at peace with his fate and the trouble he will be in with his father for even touching his Ferrari. But the audience relates to him, it helps us understand that even we can deal with the most detrimental fates if we change our perspective on

life.
Conclusion
Ferris Bueller’s Day off is one of my all-time favourite John Hughes movies. I watch this movie when I feel stuck in my day-to-day life. No matter what age or stage of life you are in, when you watch this film you are instantly brought back to your youth. Bringing about joy and focusing on young people’s resiliency John Hughes is an absolute genius when it comes to the creation of this film. The elements he has included such as the breaking of the fourth wall, the music, the amazing city of Chicago and the characters, make it very relatable to the audience, we feel like Ferris’s friends, and that we are in the midst of one of the greatest “skip days” in history. The carefreeness of Ferris’ character is refreshing and helpful at times when I or anyone needs to be reminded that “life moves pretty fast, if you don’t stop and look around every once in a while… you could miss it” (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, 1986).