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The 400 Blows
Les Quatre Cents Coups
1959 99 min France 16+
★8.6
Drama
Director: François Truffaut
Trailers
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Description
For young Parisian boy Antoine Doinel, life is one difficult situation after another. Surrounded by inconsiderate adults, including his neglectful parents, Antoine spends his days with his best friend, Rene, trying to plan for a better life. When one of their schemes goes awry, Antoine ends up in trouble with the law, leading to even more conflicts with unsympathetic authority figures.
US Gross:
$509
Starring
Jean-Pierre Léaud
Actor
Albert Rémy
Actor
Claire Maurier
Actor
Awards
Cannes Film Festival 1959
— Best Director
Cannes Film Festival 1959
— OCIC Award
Cannes Film Festival 1959
— Palme d'Or
BAFTA 1961
— Most Promising Lead Debut
Cannes Film Festival 1959
— Best Director
Cannes Film Festival 1959
— OCIC Award
Key opinion
François Truffaut’s debut masterpiece is a deeply humanist, semi-autobiographical portrait of a neglected Parisian youth struggling against a cold, institutionalized society. Through its documentary-like realism and Jean-Pierre Léaud’s nuanced performance, the film captures the universal vulnerability of childhood with profound emotional resonance.
| Acting | Jean-Pierre Léaud’s naturalistic performance anchors the film, imbuing the protagonist with a believable mix of charm, vulnerability, and restless energy. | |
| Direction | Truffaut’s direction creates a grounded, documentary-like aesthetic that favors sincere, personal honesty over melodrama. | |
| Screenplay | The narrative effectively portrays the systematic alienation of a child by parents, schools, and the state, framing his inevitable flight as a desperate search for freedom. | |
| Ending | The final scene is widely celebrated for its emotional power, breaking the fourth wall to leave the protagonist's future ambiguous and hauntingly unresolved. | |
| Production | The simplicity of the visual style is seen by some as an essential, beautiful hallmark of its realism, while others feel the film's modest presentation is starting to show its age. |