The 400 Blows

The 400 Blows (1959)

Description

Intensely touching story of a misunderstood young adolescent who left without attention, delves into a life of petty crime.

Seemingly in constant trouble at school, 14 year-old Antoine Doinel returns at the end of every day to a drab and unhappy home life. His parents have little money and he sleeps on a couch that’s been pushed into the kitchen. He knows his mother is having an affair and his parents bicker constantly. He decides to skip school and begins a downward spiral of lies and later stealing. His parents are at their wits end and after he’s stopped by the police, they decide the best thing to do would be to let Antoine face the consequences. He’s sent to a juvenile detention facility where he doesn’t do much better. He does manage to escape however……… Written by garykmcd

The 400 Blows is a 1959 French drama film, the debut by director François Truffaut ; it stars Jean-Pierre Léaud, Albert Rémy, and Claire Maurier. One of the . Told through the eyes of François Truffaut?s cinematic counterpart, Antoine Doinel, The 400 Blows sensitively re-creates the trials of Truffaut?s own childhood . Directed by François Truffaut. With Jean-Pierre Léaud, Claire Maurier, Albert Rémy, Guy Decomble. Intensely touching story of a misunderstood young adolescent who . Read Empire"s review of The 400 Blows. You can find out the star rating, film details, plot and a full review on Empire online.SpongeBob SquarePants fans from all around the world. You may watch SpongeBob TV Series Online here. Happy browsing. Spongebob Squarepants website! Spongebob .

Review

French cinema at its best
Truffaut has worked wonders here, creating a masterful tale of a boy confused, troubled, and unloved. Antoine Doinel (played superbly by Jean-Pierre Léaud in the lead role) has strict, unfaithful parents, and a harsh, oppressive teacher, and falls into delinquency because of his unhappiness. He lies, steals, skips school and runs away from home, and soon ends up in a juvenile delinquency centre. Truffaut’s inspiration for this film came from his own depressed childhood, so he bases Antoine on himself, including in terms of appearance. Being a ‘New Wave’ (a cinematographic movement of the sixties, involving directors who believed Hollywood films were too lavish and unreal) director, Truffaut always used a real location for the film, including breathtaking shots of Truffaut’s native Paris. He also made a cameo in the film in the style of Hitchcock. Delinquance is the key theme here. Antoine, who is a character who believes in liberty and freedom, and the way he is always locked up is repressive for him, and this provokes a constant need for him to be out. Trying to make a realistic and moving film was Truffaut’s aim, which, by watching this film, I realised that he had done amazingly well. Also, by combining humour and drama too, we have the defining French film of the 20th century. A black and white film that is full of colour. Bien sur, François Truffaut.
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