Analysis Of Breakfast At Tiffany's

Mise-en-scène of the movie ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ (1961)
By: Riddhi Jain
MAJ-Semester 3
Roll no: 16MA1MC040
Subject: Film Studies
To: Subhash Rao Plot:
Early one morning, a taxi pulls up at Tiffany & Co. on Fifth Avenue in New York City, from which elegantly dressed Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn) emerges. After looking into the shop 's windows, she strolls home. Outside her apartment, she fends off her date from the disastrous night before. Inside the apartment building, Holly can 't find her keys so she buzzes her landlord, Mr. Yunioshi (Mickey Rooney), who begrudgingly lets her in. Later, she is awakened by new neighbour Paul Varjak (George Peppard), who rings her doorbell to get into the building. The pair chat as she dresses to

A few days later, Paul learns that one of his short stories will be published. On the way to tell Holly, he sees a newspaper headline stating that Trawler has married someone else. Holly and Paul agree to spend the day together, taking turns doing things that each has never done before. At Tiffany 's, Paul has the ring from Doc Golightly 's box of Cracker Jack engraved as a present for Holly. After spending the night together, he awakens to find her gone. When 2E arrives, Paul ends their relationship. She calmly accepts, having earlier concluded that he and some other woman are in love.
Holly schemes to marry José for his money, which angers Paul. After Holly receives a telegram notifying her of Fred 's death, she trashes her apartment. Months later, Paul has moved out. He is invited to dinner by Holly, who is leaving the next morning for Brazil to continue her relationship with José. However, they are arrested in connection with Sally Tomato 's drug ring, and Holly spends the night in

The war isn’t prominent in the story and most of the characters are untouched by war, but things like rationing of peanut butter and most devastatingly the loss of Holy’s brother Fred, during the war tell us about it.
The city is shown prominently in the story. Holly loves the city, Brooklyn bridge, the lights and the river. New York offers and amazing background to the story and it lends the narrative an exciting energy.
Much of the story takes place around the apartment that Holly resides in. Holly’s apartment is its own special place. It;s messy, clustered and noisy telling us a lot about her character. The lack of furniture adds to the sense of impermanence.
So, the setting is a blend of all these elements. The war, New York, the apartment building and the little things the space represents for the characters