The 1979 movie directed by Peter Yates centers on a group of four friends (Jackie Earle Haley, Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern, and Daniel Christopher) in Indiana who have recently graduated from high school and are trying to decide what they want to do next. Dave (Christopher) loves bicycle racing and tries to make a future for himself in the sport.
In a scene in which the Indiana University president condemns the IU students' harshness towards the working-class people in their town, the IU president is portrayed by the actual president of the school at the time, John W. Ryan.
"Away" was the first movie role for "Home Alone" actor Stern. The film won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.
