THE 400 BLOWS (Le Quatre Cents Coups) (1959) - ♦♦♦♦♦

Directed by - Francois Truffaut

Written by - Francois Truffaut

Starring - Jean-Pierre Léaud, Claire Maurier, Albert Remy

"Essentially starting the French New Wave, Francois Truffaut’s debut tells the semi-autobiographical life of Antoine, a kid who runs away from school and his parents to live on the street, where he has a tough life but seemingly easier than living in his difficult domestic situation.

Through masterful photography and groundbreaking style, The 400 Blows essentially draws inspiration from Italian neo realism by really capturing the difficulty of childhood in a genuine and unsurpassed way, and shooting the film right out on the street.

The grit of the feature is shockingly blunt. The character of the kid is rebellious, and through it Truffaut pushes the boundaries of what should have been the cinematic norm of a depiction of childhood. The 400 Blows is full of life and full of fiery passion, quotes by many filmmakers as a prime influence and a landmark in French and world cinema that brought a breath of fresh air to the coming of age genre.

Noteworthy is Jean-Pierre Léaud, who would reprise this character and evolve as a n actor and as a cinematic personage through him. This is certainly one of his most memorable performances, and at such a young age already exhumes a distinctive style of charisma."

Drama, France