“The 400 Blows” is a 1959 French drama film directed by François Truffaut. The movie stars Jean-Pierre Léaud as Antoine Doinel, a young boy who lives in Paris with his neglectful parents and struggles to find his place in the world.
“The 400 Blows” explores Antoine’s troubled childhood as he is constantly getting into trouble both at home and at school. He skips school, steals, and eventually runs away from home, landing in a detention center. Throughout the film, Antoine searches for love and affection, but he finds that even the people who are supposed to care for him fail to understand him.
“The 400 Blows” was Truffaut’s first feature film and is widely considered a masterpiece of French New Wave cinema. The film is noted for its realistic portrayal of troubled youth, as well as its innovative use of camera techniques, such as the use of handheld cameras to create a sense of immediacy and intimacy.
“The 400 Blows” received critical acclaim and won several awards, including the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1959. It is often cited as one of the greatest films ever made and has been praised for its powerful emotional impact and its insight into the complexities of adolescence.
| Directed by | François Truffaut |
|---|---|
| Produced by | François Truffaut Georges Charlot |
| Written by | François Truffaut Marcel Moussy |
| Starring | Jean-Pierre Léaud Albert Rémy Claire Maurier |
| Music by | Jean Constantin |
| Cinematography | Henri Decaë |
| Edited by | Marie-Josèphe Yoyotte |
| Production company |
Les Films du Carrosse |
| Distributed by | Cocinor |
| Release date | 4 May 1959 (France) |
| Running time | 99 minutes |
| Country | France |
| Language | French |
| Box office | $30.7 million |