Clint Eastwood had already directed himself in two movies when he took on the directorial duties for "Breezy". Here, for the first time, Eastwood remains completely behind the camera, allowing William Holden to take the main role in this thoroughly watchable romantic drama. It marks a real change of pace and theme for Eastwood, usually a champion of western and action movies. However he slips into the genre very adroitly, creating a film that is interesting, well-made and well-acted in its deliberately low-key way.
Breezy (Kay Lenz) is a teenaged hippie girl living each day as it comes in 1970s California. She doesn't know where her next meal is coming from, nor where she will wake up in the morning, but relies on her innocent charm and the goodwill of others to get by. One day she hitches a ride with 50-something estate agent Frank (William Holden). Initially Frank finds her a brash and over-talkative nuisance, but the fates conspire to make them cross paths several times more and slowly he begins to find something likable and charming in her carefree manner. Before long Breezy is in love with Frank, and Frank himself discovers a new warmth and joy that he thought lost forever after his bitter divorce and the string of meaningless relationships that followed. But of course, the huge generation gap between Frank and Breezy brings its own problems. "All we add up to is a dirty joke" groans Frank, as he realises that society will not accept that his relationship with such a young girl may be guided by true love. Will they be able to stay together, or is their romance doomed?
"Breezy" could have taken a sleazy approach to its subject matter but – other than a few flashes of female nudity – it thankfully avoids sordidness. Jo Heims' script is generally solid – perhaps a little wordy at times, with a hard-to-swallow final scene, but overall an example of effective screen writing. The lead actors are in superb form – Holden gets across a very believable characterisation, while Lenz pulls together the innocence, charm and childlike personality of the title character. The film never tells us whether to like or dislike the two leads, whether to condone or condemn their romance, whether to find their personalities agreeable or annoying. But regardless of our reaction to the characters, there can be no argument that they are well played by the two stars. On the whole, "Breezy" is a poignant and thoughtful romantic drama. The film's conclusion - that age and background should be no barrier to true love – is somewhat flawed, but there's enough sincerity in the performances, and sensitivity in the direction and writing, for this to emerge a winning little film.
Breezy (Kay Lenz) is a teenaged hippie girl living each day as it comes in 1970s California. She doesn't know where her next meal is coming from, nor where she will wake up in the morning, but relies on her innocent charm and the goodwill of others to get by. One day she hitches a ride with 50-something estate agent Frank (William Holden). Initially Frank finds her a brash and over-talkative nuisance, but the fates conspire to make them cross paths several times more and slowly he begins to find something likable and charming in her carefree manner. Before long Breezy is in love with Frank, and Frank himself discovers a new warmth and joy that he thought lost forever after his bitter divorce and the string of meaningless relationships that followed. But of course, the huge generation gap between Frank and Breezy brings its own problems. "All we add up to is a dirty joke" groans Frank, as he realises that society will not accept that his relationship with such a young girl may be guided by true love. Will they be able to stay together, or is their romance doomed?
"Breezy" could have taken a sleazy approach to its subject matter but – other than a few flashes of female nudity – it thankfully avoids sordidness. Jo Heims' script is generally solid – perhaps a little wordy at times, with a hard-to-swallow final scene, but overall an example of effective screen writing. The lead actors are in superb form – Holden gets across a very believable characterisation, while Lenz pulls together the innocence, charm and childlike personality of the title character. The film never tells us whether to like or dislike the two leads, whether to condone or condemn their romance, whether to find their personalities agreeable or annoying. But regardless of our reaction to the characters, there can be no argument that they are well played by the two stars. On the whole, "Breezy" is a poignant and thoughtful romantic drama. The film's conclusion - that age and background should be no barrier to true love – is somewhat flawed, but there's enough sincerity in the performances, and sensitivity in the direction and writing, for this to emerge a winning little film.