Breakfast at Tiffany’s–A Look at Love in the 1960s

Quintus takes his turn as Editor in Chief. He assigns us the theme: “Once Upon A Time in the 1960s.” For Quintus, Breakfast at Tiffany’s represents the spirit of the 1960s–the decade of his father’s birth. It was released almost 58 years ago to the day. The movie also is a favorite of Quintus’s because, he says, it aspires to the kind of love his parents live.

~I am lost in a Tiffany Breakfast, forever with Hepburn, lost in dreams and Love~Quintus Ni

Pure beauty can withstand the tempering of the years. The eyes always have brilliance; the posture still has a charm. This kind of beauty, like a bird with brilliant feathers, will not quickly dim.

What is love? Breakfast at Tiffany’s shows us.

The secret of a happy marriage is to give each other the most healthy relationship. There will not be too much restraint. I feel that if Paul and Holly (the chief characters of Breakfast at Tiffany’s) break up one day, it will be no big deal. To be genuinely mature, Holly has to face life alone and live on her own. She has been fostering herself around different men, and she has become a pathological parasite.

Sometimes, we only can find ourselves with the courage and strength of the rebirth in a completely unpredictable situation. It seems that people regain themselves in the state of no love, where they no longer change their mood for the mood of others, are no longer cautious, no longer suffer from the loss. So, I suggest everyone begin to learn to be self-sufficient.

The balance of the mind is to let it go. When Love comes, I love it. If you lose it, you will be brave enough to accept the results and regain your self. 

Everyone does not need the Love of others to prove themselves because Love is not the whole of your life. Living alone also can be perfect!   

Tiffany, Love, and Dreams

A black dress, elegant and dignified hair, an eye-catching pearl necklace, all while eating breakfast and hanging outside the window of TIFFANY’s on Fifth Avenue, sunglasses that cannot block that pair of amazing eyes–Hepburn’s classic style has been imitated and never been surpassed.

This black and white film, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, born in 1961, is undoubtedly the most successful advertisement for TIFFANY’s, the world-famous jewelry store established in 1837 in the United States. The producer has put on the charming cloak of love for TIFFANY’s. The TIFFANY’s counter clerk in the movie knows the beautiful couple does not have enough money to buy what they like yet is still polite. He lets them shop, and this gentleman clerk promises their engraving will be done as they wish. Holly is delighted. She says, “This is a perfect place.” I believe most people will want to see this magical place.

Love Needs To Be Fed

Breakfast at Tiffany’s is half a century old. In this half-century, how many great love stories have been staged again and again, compared to the ordinary and poor love of Holly and Paul.

Love is an enormous wealth. Once you have it, you have power, the goal of struggle; life has changed.

Perhaps this is just the first look of love, like a potion that can heal everything, then what’s the next step…?

Breakfast at Tiffany’s is not like a fairy tale where the princess and the prince live together with happiness and kindness. It can be said that this is a myth in our real life, offering a warm coat to people, even those struggling financially. Like the young couple in the “Magi’s Gift,” they love each other and give Christmas gifts they can’t afford or need. Still, the love is clear, only it doesn’t pay the bills. 

Holly, in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, is kind and brave, pursuing independence and yearning for freedom, but always she hopes to fulfill herself by marrying a man with status and wealth. A rich woman supported Paul. Both are social flowers surrounded by countless rich people. These two people know each other’s situation totally; they can accept companionship and love, but it is challenging to allow the other to become their ultimate affiliation. Because they see the reality and cruelty of life better than anyone else, money and status tempt them.

A person can be expanded and nourished in love. No matter how beautiful love is, even charming love can not escape the cruelty of reality. From ancient times to the present, vivid love stories are mostly in the form of tragedy; they are more exceptional for their sorrow. But the Love we want is not tragic. It should be a long process from joy to understanding and warmth. At first, it may occur in the darkness and loneliness of our lives; that’s the thing that can ignite a light of hope enough to illuminate the whole person. Then, often, love becomes dispensable; if this happens, it can bring disgust, sneering, and dislike. So, very often, we let it go, for each other, or we despise each other. In the rare case, like with my parents, love holds and stays, and we cuddle each other, spending the rest of our lives together in embrace.

Moon River

One day, Paul was writing at home, and suddenly he heard a sound from downstairs. It turned out that Holly was sitting on the window and singing “Moon River” affectionately and sincerely. At that moment, anyone would be touched by her; she is not a socialized flower with high-heeled shoes surrounded by countless rich guys. She is melancholy, like blue wind chimes, and she can’t help herself, she can’t control her life. Holly always deliberately hides and alienates others. I still feel that Holly has a kind of beauty when she chooses to isolate from the world. Paul, too, is fascinated. He has never seen this aspect of Holly. This isn’t the same Holly he had known before. This singing Holly is affectionate and beautiful. She smiles at him; this smile goes to Paul’s heart. This was a scene he could never forget. They initially thought they could create a world of their own, but hard life destroyed their confidence. They went to the end of the mountain, but they fell. The original dreams have gone so far away; they can’t see the road of ideas and how to go to the next chapter in their lives.

Between dreams and reality, between love and truth, growth and stagnation, there is always luck and misfortune. They are twins. With risk in your life, you may find a person you love; perhaps this love can stand the test of time, if you are fortunate.    

So, what is love~? Have you loved someone before? Have you already fallen love with someone? What is that feeling?

How do you feel about Breakfast at Tiffany’s?

Does it capture the spirit of the 1960s?

  Thank you

Wish all best 

1960s Editor: Quintus Ni