Kaitlyn Gallagher – 10
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is a hilarious and thought provoking teen comedy, centered around eccentric personality Ferris Bueller deciding to miss his 9th day in the first semester of his senior year with his friend Cameron and girlfriend Sloane by faking an illness. John Hughes, the director of the film, created the script in a week and started filming in September of 1985 right away, with Matthew Broderick, Mia Sara, Alan Ruck, Jeffery Jones and Jennifer Gray as the main characters. The movie mainly focuses on the three main characters going through Chicago and spending a day together as they reminisce about their past, realizing one day they will not always be together and wanting to make the most of it while they have the chance. Their principal has suspicions that they are on the prowl throughout the entirety of the movie, while Ferris’s sister, Jeanie, however knew from the beginning of his fake illness, as she noticed her parents do not catch how smart and slick their son is and is lying to them.
A quote from the movie that often evokes a strong emotion within others about themselves and their psychologies, is the one Ferris says while laying in bed in the beginning of the film. “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” That quote summarizes the film in its entirety, a celebration of human existence and the power one has if they let themselves believe. If they take in the scenery and beauty of life around them, they will get to experience amazing moments because they took their time to enjoy life instead of always worrying about what is happening next. Ferris’s friend Cameron in the film, is meant to represent who the quote is directed to, because throughout the film he is the one who is scared the most of what is around him. He feared skipping school, was terrified of his father’s car being ruined by the two gentlemen (who then had a joy ride with the vehicle anyway) and cannot fathom how Ferris is worried about absolutely nothing. It shows a great contrast between two people who have grown up together, yet grown apart in their psyche when it comes to the world around them, and shows a great separation between those who might have anxiety and those who do not give their anxiety power.
When I first watched the film, I was awed by the aesthetics and the camera work and Ferris Bueller’s existence and sense of freedom. I recognized the contrast between Ferris and Cameron, but when it came around the second time, it was important for me to notice it again and the heartwarming scenes of the three of them together having fun. It connects to how I feel about high school and how it’s going to be scary once we graduate and move on. For now, as the student body and myself too, we should take in the world around us and enjoy it or else we could miss it too.
