Toni Basil dances like her life depends on it in this 6-minute psychedelic freakout.
Breakaway plays out like a visual symphony. A prototype for the best (but still, lesser) contemporary formalist music videos, like Peter Care’s “What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?” and “Drive” (both for REM), Conner’s movie is an experiment in the visual language of film. But no matter how powerful a formal analysis of his filmmaking process may be in suggesting how Conner’s rhythms affect us, there is much in Breakaway – in Basilotta’s brash and unbridled self-assertiveness, in Conner’s feverish camera style, and even in the uncomplicated honesty of Cobb’s catchy lyrics and tune – that defies verbalisation… and must simply be loved! -- Senses of Cinema
Editing
Conner's stroboscopic cuts sync to Cobb's breathless vocals.
Acting
Toni Basil's raw, unbridled physical performance.
Director
Bruce Conner
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Bruce Conner was a sculptor and assemblage artist who hated being called a 'filmmaker' — he preferred 'moving image artist.'
This predates MTV by fourteen years and basically invented the grammar of modern music video editing.
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