'' Breakfast of Champions '' is a 1999 American satirical black comedy film adapted and directed by Alan Rudolph , from Kurt Vonnegut , Jr. 's 1973 novel of the same name . Though the producers entered it into the 49th Berlin International Film Festival , the film was panned by critics and was a box office bomb that was withdrawn from theatres before going into wide release . Dwayne Hoover , a car salesman who is the most respected businessman in Midland City , Indiana , is on the verge of a nervous breakdown , even attempting suicide daily . His wife , Celia , is addicted to pills , and his sales manager and best friend , Harry Le Sabre , is preoccupied with his own secret fondness for wearing lingerie , worried he will be discovered . Meanwhile , a little-known science fiction author , Kilgore Trout , is hitchhiking across the United States to speak at Midland City 's arts festival . In search of answers for his identity quest , Hoover decides to attend the festival
49th Berlin International Film Festival
49th Berlin International Film Festival
Breakfast of Champions (film)