Director François Truffaut's first feature film, THE 400 BLOWS, is a landmark in French cinema. Antoine Doinel (Jean-Pierre Léaud) is a 13-year-old boy who can't seem to do anything right. His parents yell at him and then bribe him for his love and his promises to work harder in school. Meanwhile, his schoolteacher is out to get him and blames Antoine for everything-turning him into the class clown. As a result, Antoine runs away from school and his difficult family, living on the streets of Paris and committing petty crimes. While his life on the street is tough, it's much better than dealing with his preoccupied parents and his accusatory teacher. Nonetheless, things only go downhill for Antoine, descending to a simultaneously painful and beautiful conclusion. - A truly impressive film, THE 400 BLOWS is raw, honest, and intensely emotional. Imbued with a strong and complex personality, Antoine maintains his poise and self-confidence, even as he endures abusive treatment from every adult he encounters. René Simonet (Patrick Auffray) is Antoine's one pal, and the unspoken dialogues between the boys, depicted by Truffaut through the boys' facial expressions and with masterful roving photography, allow the viewer to see through Antoine's eyes and understand his unflinching tenacity. Few films have captured the difficulties of childhood as well as this acclaimed French masterpiece. Essentially the start of the French New Wave movement, THE 400 BLOWS is also the beginning of Truffaut's Antoine Doinel cycle, which follows Léaud as Antoine in five additional films over the course of 20 years. Original Release: 1959
Condition:NEW. Brand New Factory Sealed
Product Details
Actors: Jean-Pierre Leaud
Directors: François Truffaut
Format: Widescreen
Language: English
Number of discs: 1
Rated:
NR
Not Rated
Studio: Criterion Collection
DVD Release Date: January 10, 2017
Run Time: 99 minutes
Cast & Crew
Jean-Pierre Léaud Antoine Doinel
Robert Beauvais School Director
Claire Maurier Mme. Doinel
Albert Remy M. Doinel
Guy Decomble The French Teacher
Patrick Auffay Rene Bigey
Claude Mansard Examining Magistrate
Serge Moati Boy
Marius Laurey Police Clerk
François Truffaut Man in Funfair
Folco Jacques Monod Commissioner
Pierre Repp The English Teacher
Jeanne Moreau Woman with Dog
Henri Virlojeux Night Watchman
Christian Brocard Man with Typewriter
Yvonne Claudie Mme Bigey
Jean-Claude Brialy Man in street
Luc Andrieux Gym Teacher
Richard Kanayan Abbou
Georges Flament M. Bigey
Renaud Fontanarosa Boy
Daniel Couturier Boy
Jean Douchet The lover
Jacques Demy Policeman
Technical Credits
François Truffaut Director,Producer,Screenwriter
Jean Constantin Score Composer
Philippe de Broca Asst. Director
Henri Decaë Cinematographer
Bernard Evein Art Director
Marcel Moussy Screenwriter
Marie-Josephe Yoyotte Editor
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