THE 400 BLOWS (1959, France, 99 min.), directed by Francois Truffaut; story by Truffaut; with Jean-Pierre Leaud (Antoine Doinel), Claire Maurier (Gilberte Doinel), Albert Remy (Julien Doinel), Guy Decomble ("Little Quiz," the teacher), Patrick Auffay (René). In French with English subtitles.

Please jot down answers to each of the following. Do three in depth (c. 150 words each) on separate paper.

1. Truffaut discovered young Jean-Pierre Leaud after having placed an ad in a newspaper. He was very pleased with the results. (In fact, he would go on to make several more films with Leaud over the next twenty years.) Do you agree with him? What's memorable about Leaud's "look," about his acting?

2. Describe Antoine's character. Is he complex (i.e., does he have different sides to him, or is he a one-dimensional character)? Does he develop (i.e., does he learn anything and change as a result; does he make significant decisions about his life)?

3. One way to look at a director's work is to examine the kinds of thematic conflicts that exist in her/his work. One of The 400 Blows' most important conflicts is between "constraint" and "liberty." Discuss how this theme plays itself out in the film.

4. Can you pinpoint any other themes in the film?

5. Truffaut allows us to feel Antoine's entrapment through various images of claustrophobia. What are some of these images that create a feeling of claustrophobia? How does he create feelings of liberation, of exhilaration?

6. Like Truffaut's very first film (Les Mistons, a short film), The 400 Blows focuses on the world of children. This was to be a pre-occupation of Truffaut's throughout his career (e.g., Farenheit 451, The Wild Child, Small Change). Which of the scenes with children stand out in your mind? What is Truffaut's attitude towards children?

7. How would you characterize Truffaut's style? Look at the way he moves his camera. Much movement? Memorable angles? Fast-paced editing, or long takes?

8. Consider the scene in the amusement park. Antoine has skipped school; he is free for the day. Why do you think Truffaut chose to film him in "The Rotor"? Why not on a ferris wheel or on a roller coaster?

9. How does Truffaut want us to feel about Antoine's parents, or about those in authority? What makes you say that? Use specific examples.

10. Would you say that we are usually seeing things through Antoine's eyes, from his perspective, from his point of view? Can you think of any scenes in particular where this is true?

11. Like most of the other New Wave filmmakers, many of whom began as film critics, Truffaut often allowed his great love of Paris and his great love of cinema to be evident in his films. Can you see any signs of that in The 400 Blows?

12. The most famous shot in The 400 Blows is the last one--the freeze-frame of Antoine in close-up. This was the first use of a stylistic device which has unfortunately become a cliche in the movies and on TV. But it serves an important function in this movie, doesn't it? Do you find it an effective way to end the film?

RETURN to ENG195 Page.