Breaking Away

In Bloomington, a group of local teenagers, or Cutters as they're not so affectionately referred to as by students of the nearby University of Indiana, goof around and struggle with their dim prospects. One of their members (Dennis Christopher), who's obsessed with Italy's top cycling team and Italian culture in general, begins romancing a cute college student while gearing his buddies to participate in the cycling championship, in the first year that Cutters will be allowed to participate. Peter Yates' "Breaking Away" is a charming, endearing, and good-spirited movie which features fine early performances from Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern, Jackie Earle Haley, and Christopher and two extraordinary racing sequences (Yates also helmed "Bullitt" which contains what is largely considered the the greatest chase sequence) which place this among the finest sports movies ever crafted.