The Breakfast Club: Chicago, Music, and a Generation Defined

Take a fresh look at one of the most iconic teen films of the 1980s: The Breakfast Club (1985). 

In the first part of this talk, you'll take a virtual stroll around the former suburban Chicago high school where the movie was filmed. Though we can’t step inside, photos and stories of the building’s exterior reveal how its architecture reflects the pressures and confinement experienced by five very different teenagers stuck in Saturday detention.

The second half of this hour-long talk shifts to music, focusing on Simple Minds’ anthem "Don’t You (Forget About Me)." Here, we’ll uncover behind-the-scenes stories, explore the song’s ties to MTV, and discuss how it became a lasting metaphor for victory and self-discovery. 

Blending film history, music, and Chicago landmarks, this program invites film lovers, community groups, and anyone nostalgic for the 1980s to discover how The Breakfast Club continues to define a generation of moviegoers.