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Francois Truffaut's semi-autobiographical first feature stars Jean-Pierre Léaud as Antoine Doinel, an unruly young Parisian whose unhappiness leads him into trouble. Frequently running away from school and home, Antoine spends much of his time playing with his friends on the steets of the city; but events take a more serious turn when an accusation of plagiarism leads him to quit school and the theft of a typewriter lands him in trouble with the police. Léaud was to reprise his role as Doinel in four further Truffaut-directed adventures: 'Antoine et Colette' (1962), 'Baiser volés' (1968), 'Domicile conjugal' (1970), and 'Love on the Run' (1979).
Synopsis
Director Francois Truffaut's first feature film, The 400 Blows, is a landmark in French cinema. Antoine Doinel (Jean-Pierre Leaud) is a 13-year-old boy who can't seem to do anything right. His parents yell at him and then bribe him for his love and his promises to work harder in school. Meanwhile, his schoolteacher is out to get him and blames Antoine for everything--turning him into the class clown. As a result, Antoine runs away from school and his difficult family, living on the streets of Paris and committing petty crimes. While his life on the street is tough, it's much better than dealing with his preoccupied parents and his accusatory teacher. Nonetheless, things only go downhill for Antoine, descending to a simultaneously painful and beautiful conclusion.
A truly impressive film, The 400 Blows is raw, honest, and intensely emotional. Imbued with a strong and complex personality, Antoine maintains his poise and self-confidence, even as he endures abusive treatment from every adult he encounters. Rene Simonet (Patrick Auffray) is Antoine's one pal, and the unspoken dialogues between the boys, depicted by Truffaut through the boys' facial expressions and with masterful roving photography, allow the viewer to see through Antoine's eyes and understand his unflinching tenacity. Few films have captured the difficulties of childhood as well as this acclaimed French masterpiece. Essentially the start of the French New Wave movement, The 400 Blows is also the beginning of Truffaut's Antoine Doinel cycle, which follows Leaud as Antoine in four additional films over the course of 20 years.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
By H. Feddern
Format:DVD
Tears streamed down my face at the end of this film. It is just one of the most moving scenes in film history - often copied and imitated. The story of a neglected child and an unfair and judgemental society is simple, yet so brilliant.
Leaud plays a mischievous, yet normal boy whose mother and father hold an ambivalent relationship towards him. They are not necessarily malevolent people, but they have a misunderstanding towards their son - they represent the majority of parents who fail to nurture their children through society's attitudes and misgivings.
The elegance of the music and direction is so smooth and heightens the profound nature of the story. Truffaut's style has been plagiarised by so many great directors from Scorsese to Altman to Paul Thomas Anderson, its flowing and oozing sentiment.
If you don't like crying or being touched then definitely don't watch this film. Its sensitive, stirring and sincere. It pulls slowly yet cleverely at your heartstrings without brusque devices. Also, this film is proof that you can find very talented children that can act - unlike the awful child fodder poured out today.
Don't hesitate to buy this film, whatever the price!
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By C H
Format:DVD
This is one of my favourite films. I think it speaks for itself as greatest Francious Truffaut and one of the most beautiful films ever made. I defy anyone to not fall in love with Jean-Pierre Leaud's Antoine Doniel. Some of the reviewers on this page are complaining that the subtitles are bad translations. This may be true - I dont speak much French. but what i'd like to say is that I thought the use of words such as 'ya', was meant to emphasise that they were speaking in 'parisian slang'. I found this adorable when the two boys were conversing with each other. The contradiction of the way they talk to each other like workingclass men, who are fed up with the world and their mischevous, work-shy, adolescent behaviour is highly amusing. Please dont be put off by the bad comments. If you do not yet own this film, you will be in for an absolute delight
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By David Welsh
Format:DVD
This was the film that launched the French New Wave, which was one of the most important things to happen to cinema in its history. The film centres on a Parisian schoolboy, Antoine Doinel (a semi-autobiographical invention on Truffaut's part who would turn up in a number of Truffaut's films) and his gradual estrangement from school and his parents through various, rather minor, acts of rebellion which end up having serious consequences for him. The film is wonderfully shot, beautifully and evocatively depicting contemporary Paris, and stylishly directed. The performance of Jean-Pierre Léaud as Doinel is outstanding, and has to be one of the best pieces of child acting ever.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
heartfelt and affecting
Les 400 coups still stands as a remarkable portrait of a young boy in disadvantaged circumstances, who basically suffers for being unloved and ends up on the wrong side of the law... Read more
Published 7 months ago by schumann_bg
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the greatest portrayals of growing up
Alongside Louis Malle's 'Au revoir les enfants' Au Revoir Les Enfants [DVD] and Andrei Tarkovsky's 'Ivan's Childhood' Ivan's Childhood [1962] [DVD] 'The 400 blows' is the greatest... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Xenophon
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good
AGain this was another of the French Films I purchased for my A level French daughter to listed to and hear the French language being spoken. Read more
Published on 31 May 2010 by ladyday
5.0 out of 5 stars
New Wave crashes upon the beaches of the French cinema
Les Quatre cents coup is a happy film as it pins us to the wall of this first film of the nouvelle vague,kicking against the pricks in the cause of realism,based on memories of the... Read more
Published on 14 April 2010 by technoguy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Film That Endlessly Rewards Close Attention
"The Four Hundred Blows," (1959) a drama with comic touches, was the first full-length feature film from famed French director/movie critic Francois Truffaut, and is generally... Read more
Published on 3 Mar 2010 by Stephanie DePue
5.0 out of 5 stars
you must see this film
An excellent film - good story - well acted - well told - great cinematography - fantastic shots of paris street life from the period - watch this then ignore the rest of the... Read more
Published on 16 Jan 2010 by mv
5.0 out of 5 stars
The boy stays in the picture.
4oo blows is a must for any film fan. The story of a young boy struggling to come to terms with the world and his rebellion against authority is a parallel with the life of the... Read more
Published on 17 Aug 2009 by Mr. David J. Garrett
5.0 out of 5 stars
The 400 Blows me away
This is First movie i have seen by Francois Truffaut what a great movie to start with.This movie could easyily be set today.Alot of complaints here about the DVD. Read more
Published on 21 Aug 2008 by Mr. Terry D. Jarvis
1.0 out of 5 stars
Superb film but don't bother with this DVD release
Many sequences out of sync. Subtitles are inaccurately translated into American English and CANNOT BE TURNED OFF. Very irritating. Too cheap to be worth returning. Read more
Published on 23 May 2008 by G. Henry-Stogdon
3.0 out of 5 stars
Glorious film - but with burned in subtitles
The film is one of the glories of World Cinema, but this welcome disc is only worth buying if it is going cheap and you don't have the Criterion release. Read more
Published on 19 May 2008 by Paul R. Sutton
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