A couple weeks ago my girlfriend and I took a trip to Chicago for the weekend.  The weather on Sunday was practically identical to that during Ferris Bueller’s legendary day off: mostly sunny with a high temperature of 69 degrees.  It was the kind of weather that inspired Ferris (Matthew Broderick) to remark thoughtfully to the audience, “how could I possibly be expected to handle school on a day like this?” before taking off for a day of surprisingly wholesome adventures in downtown Chicago with his best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck) and his girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara).

“Breaking the fourth wall” is an expression that refers to the imaginary “fourth wall” of a theater – the portal through which the audience watches the events of the story.  Breaking the wall occurs when one of the characters acknowledges the fact that an audience exists, and speaks to them directly (or refers to them indirectly).  This happens copiously in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) – in fact, it’s probably the most familiar example of this technique.  Ferris talks about all kinds of things; he provides a tutorial on how to fake an illness, gripes about his lack of a car, and explains his disdain for authority – and of any ideology in general.  Having Ferris speak directly to us is an important part of the movie’s charm, as Matthew Broderick’s smarmy charisma floats off of the screen and makes it clear why everyone in his high school – even the teachers in the English department – simply adore him.

The Film: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

The Song: “Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want”

The Artist: Dream Academy (more…)