The 400 Blows story
The 400 Blows (French: Les Quatre Cents Coups) is a 1959 French New Wave drama film, and the directorial debut of François Truffaut. The film, shot in DyaliScope, stars Jean-Pierre Léaud, Albert Rémy, and Claire Maurier. One of the defining films of the French New Wave, it displays many of the characteristic traits of the movement. Written by Truffaut and Marcel Moussy, the film is about Antoine Doinel, a misunderstood adolescent in Paris who struggles with his parents and teachers due to his rebellious behavior. Filmed on location in Paris and Honfleur, it is the first in a series of five films in which Léaud plays the semi-autobiographical character.
10 total · 2 choice · 6 major · 2 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| adolescence | choice | Antoine appeared to be a not altogether atypical troubled teenager |
| dysfunctional upbringing | choice | we are given to understand that Antoine's behavior may have been cause by a lack of love and attention from his parents, neither of whom really wanted him |
| husband and wife | major | Julien and Claire |
| mother and son | major | Claire and Antoine |
| running away from home | major | Antoine tried to run away from his parents |
| stepfather and stepson | major | Julien and Antoine |
| theft | major | Antoine stole a bottle of milk, and then a typewriter, and got caught trying to return the latter. |
| youthful indiscretion | major | Antoine got caught stealing a typewriter and was sent to a juvenile center |
| romantic infidelity | minor | The mother was seen kissing another man. |
| skipping school | minor | Antoine played truant together with a friend |