The 400 Blows (1959)

“The French masterpiece of adolescence in the 1950s.”

We all think that movies and television programs today are trying the poison our youth, but it’s been going on for more than three decades.

The 400 Blows is the feature length directorial debut of French New Wave director Francois Truffaut. It follows the young developing life of 14 year old Antoine Doinel, a troublemaker seen through the eyes of his teachers and parents. He commits petty theft, runs away from home, and unsuccessfully tries to attempt to achieve academic success and win his parents’ trust.

The film was a pioneer of the French New Wave movement, where existentialism themes were brought in and the rejection of classical cinematic forms took place. It’s also considered the defining film of the movement. It explored the young encounters of a boy whose own conscience was doing the right thing and just living life.

Truffaut achieves his directing in this film. He perfects a well narrated story influenced by the old classic Hollywood and the realism of Italian cinema. His skill of unfolding the narrative is relevant to the unfolding of Antoine’s struggle to be good.

The irony of Antoine’s struggle to be good is that he can’t be good. Nature didn’t make him that way; he was raised and taught to rebel.

I really liked this movie, but weirdly enough, I was waiting for it to end. Not that it bored me, but to me, maybe it was taking its sweet ass time to wrap up its conflicts. I also find it amusing, that earlier I was watching the UK series Skins and thinking how much affect it has on teens, but then watching this, I wonder if this movie had the same effect on teens the same way Skins has the same effect on teens today. It’s interesting to think that Antoine is somewhat an ancestor, precursor, or prototype to the kids of Skins.

The 400 Blows is a French masterpiece and carries out all the perks of being a teenager, backed up by well direction from Truffaut. I give it a classic 5 out of 5 stars.