An Appreciation by Jerry Saravia
Based on debuting director Francois Truffaut's own troubling childhood, "The 400 Blows" (the title literally translates to 400 dirty tricks) is a deeply evocative and realistic look at the life of a directionless, troubled 14-year-old kid who does nothing but get in trouble. Shot in the streets of Paris in the style of the French New Wave in astounding black-and-white, the look of Paris during the gloomy days or the noirish nights are fitting for this young kid who is slowly coming of age. If Antoine steals a "Summer of Monika" poster from a local cinema, it is no big deal. If he runs from gym practice or plays hooky, no big deal - all in a day's work. If he lights a candle in memory of Balzac in his bedroom, well there might be a fire that is put out by his parents (they celebrate preventing a tragedy by going to the movies). If he has to come up with excuses why he didn't attend school, he just might say his mother passed on. Antoine is a liar and a thief and yet you can't fully blame him. The teachers at school are physically abusive and it feels more like a prison term or detention than an inviting school. At home, he is in his bedroom and takes out the trash yet he'd rather sleep in a sleeping bag than an actual bed. The parents, one is a slightly apathetic stepfather (Albert Rémy) who wants Antoine to be disciplined, the other parent is his mother (Claire Maurier) who is having an affair from someone at the office (Antoine catches them in the act on the streets while playing hooky). The mother turns from cold and distant and tough to maternal and sweet (no doubt because she was caught sinning by her son). When Antoine is eventually sent to a juvenile detention facility, it looks no different than his school. So his parents want nothing to do with him, the abusive teachers and the police want nothing to do him.
