The 400 Blows

Anthony Menza
10/17/11
400 Blows
French
François Truffaut


   The film The 400 Blows is a film directed by Francois Truffaut, that perfectly captures the atmosphere of the time period it portrays. At this time in France, as with most parts of the world, there was a clear distinction between upper and middle class. As the main character, a young boy named Antoine, struggles to make his family happy, he is thrust into the world of misconduct; stealing, vandalizing, lying. All while trying to gain attention from his parents, who have issues of their own, and let them effect Antoine.
   Roger Ebert calls this film "one of the most intensely touching stories ever made about a young adolescent." It most certainly seems that Ebert has a positive opinion on not only the film, but the lead actor as well. Antoine Doinel was played by Jean-Pierre Leaud, who has a kind of solemn detachment, as if his heart had suffered obscure wounds long before the film began." The words spoken by Ebert show a strong support for the young actor, and the importance of that is crucial, as one of The 400 Blows' main appeals is the impecible acting by the young man. Such acting chops, and chemistry between him and the director, Truffaut, is the reason why the actor and director maintained a professional relationship long after the film finished production.
   Jason Korsner, reviewer from BBC, stated "This film is a landmark in modern cinema, launching the French New Wave and turning François Truffaut from a critic into one of the world's most distinguished film makers." Interestingly enough, not only does Korsner state the lead actor, Leaud, as a remarkable talent in the film, but also gives the same amount of credit to Truffaut, almost remarking him as an actor himself. "There are two outstanding talents in the film. As Antoine Doinel, the young Jean-Pierre Léaud delivers a tremendously deep, sympathetic, and convincing performance in the role which he would reprise four times in the following 20 years. And Truffaut himself, in his first feature, displays the directorial flair that would make him such an influential auteur." That "flair" would launch this film into such a success, and cement Truffaut's name into history as one of the greatest and innovative directors of a generation.
   Korsner states "12-year-old Antoine Doinel lives in a tiny flat with his mother and stepfather, who are poor and generally inattentive." This is made obvious in many scenes of the movie, but in particular, until Antoine leaves his home, feeling hes done his family wrong, his mother never has a good word to say to him. One of the very first scenes between them involved Antoine's mother making him run out of the house to fetch a bag of flour, and in no way was the dialogue nice, as one between a mother and son should be. Only when the mother would seem to change her tune with her son was the chemistry between them ANYTHING RESEMBLING a  functional mother and son relationship, and even then, Antoine would still cause trouble and chaos.
   In my opinion, this film is a very good portrayal of a neglected son, and his odd relationship with his family, and himself. Getting into trouble seems like an outlet for Antoine, as he is living in a sheltered time, at a sheltered age, and feels neglected and abused by many people. He is searching for something within himself. Throughout the whole film, it always seems like Antoine is trying to escape from something. Whether it be in running away, stealing, lying, or even in his school work and readings. He is trying to escape the realities of the life he is living. 


Sources: 
Chicago Sun
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19990808/REVIEWS08/908080301/1023
BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2001/02/28/400_blows_1959_review.shtml