The success of Five Easy Pieces in America was an encouraging sign for American movies in an otherwise depressing time. In 1969 the surprising popularity of unconventional, 'downbeat' movies like Midnight Cowboy, Alice's Restaurant, They Shoot Horses, Don't They? and, particularly, Easy Rider seemed to represent the beginning of a vital new phase in the development of the American film. Also in 1970, younger film-makers were given unusual freedom to create personal pr

Five Easy Pieces, written by Adrien Joyce and directed by Bob Rafelson, fulfils the promise of the 1969 films that came before it. Like Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces is a 'road' picture. It is loosely structured, rough, portrait of the contemporary American drifter. It is independently produced film, unorthodox in both theme and style, as Easy Rider was; but it is also a more mature and honest work and a critique of some of the unacknowledged assumptions of Easy Rider. Many of the same people who worked on Easy Rider worked on Five Easy Pieces. I believe that Five Easy Pieces is a continuation of Easy Rider, and directly comments on some of the same themes and ideas that the earlier film presented.

Bobby’s secret past is revealed to the audience when Bobby travels to Los Angeles and visits his sister, Partita, who is a classical pianist. Partita, played by Lois Smith, is extremely happy to see her brother, but informs him that their father has suffered a couple of strokes and that Bobby should come visit him at the family's home on "the island". The acting between Nicholson and Smith is great. They truly act like brother and sister while on screen together. In the presence of his sister, Bobby changes his whole demeanor, from that of a wild-natured blue-collar worker to a well mannered human being.

In contrast to his co-worker and friend Elton, Bobby likes his job but finds the life that comes with it somewhat empty. Elton is perfectly happy with time at home with the wife and kids, watching television. He might run around at night with Bobby, but he values his family. Elton works at the oil field because he is unskilled and the job allows him to provide for his family. Bobby is more interested in the raw experience of living. This contrast is demonstrated in a great scene were Elton and Bobby are stuck in a freeway traffic jam after being sent home for drunkenness. Bored with just sitting in traffic, Bobby climbs aboard the back of a truck hauling household items, including a piano. Bobby then uncovers the piano and begins playing it. As the truck takes off, Bobby is totally absorbed in his playing, oblivious to the fact that the truck is taking a wrong exit, taking him further away from home. Elton is left bewildered, wondering what is wrong with his friend. During a break at work, Elton tells Bobby about the joys of a family and reveals that Rayette might be pregnant. Angered by the news and theidea of being tied down, Bobby swears off his friendship with Elton and tells his boss he is quitting his job. Moments later, Bobby sees Elton confronted by two men who begin chasing Elton. Bobby comes to Elton's aid only to find that they are Federal Marshals there to arrest Elton for robbing a gas station a year ago. Bobby then realizes that a past or secret life can come back to haunt someone.

The young audiences that went to see Five Easy Pieces were able to relate to the character of Bobby. The hippie’s and the counter-culture groups were able to relate to Bobby and his conflicted life. The youth generation as a whole was able to relate to this movie because every human being desire’s to know their true place in this world. The anti-Vietnam War movement divided this country as well as the family’s who were directly affected by this war.. The boy’s who were drafted for Vietnam were often the son’s of WWII veterans. Many of those men that fought in WWII did so because they believed and were told by the government that it would be the “war to end all wars”. Some WWII veterans became disillusioned with the government when their son’s were drafted to fight in this war. Other WWII veterans were proud of their service and country, and expected the same from their children. When some kids were drafted and did not want to go, it caused a break in the relationship of father and son for some of those families. Family’s were also torn apart by the concept of the war itself. Adults and youth’s, men and wome

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