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| Jean-Pierre Léaud in a still Frame of The 400 Blows (1959) Movie |
‘The 400 Blows’ (1959) is a French New Wave drama film
directed by Francois Truffaut. It is his first film in a series of five films.
The film is about Antoine Doinel a misunderstood adolescent in Paris who
struggles with his parents and school teacher due to his rebellious behavior.
Story:
The story of the film is written by Francois
Truffaut and Marcel Mousy. The story is about a misunderstood adolescent boy
Antoine Doinel who struggles for living alone peacefully in the seashore. For
stealing a typewriter from his stepfather’s office, his stepfather turns over
him to the police. He is placed after in an observation center. He one day runs
away from there and goes in the seashore. Actually, in this film director Francois
Truffaut has wanted to display his childhood memories and the relationship with
his mother. We can know Truffaut’s childhood memories through this film. It is
like a realistic film. But there are no formalisms only naturalisms. This movie
is a construction of reality. What happens is not real but the film is made
with real events.
Plot:
Antoine Doine the main character of the film is a
misunderstood adolescent boy who struggles with his parents and the school
teacher for living alone peacefully and independently. He and his best friend
Rene try to plan for a better life. They steal money from their house. The school
teacher catches Antoine for plagiarizing Balzac. One day he and his friend
steal a typewriter from his stepfather’s office. But Antoine is caught. His
stepfather turns over him to the police. He passes one night with the
prostitutes and thieves. But his mother confesses that her husband is not his
biological father. So, Antoine is placed in an observation center for troubled
youths according to his mother’s wish, near the seashore. While playing
football with other boys, he runs away and goes to the seashore. The film ends
with a freeze-frame of Antoine at the seashore and the camera optically zooms
on his faces.
Cinematography:
Henri Decae is the cinematographer of the film. The
film is directed in 1959. Before that time, camera movement was hardly in some
movies. There were no more varieties in shot divisions. But in this film we
notice there are different kinds of shot divisions. To describe cinematography,
it is necessary to describe about shots divisions, mise-en-Scene and the use of
light of the film.
Shot divisions:
Most of the shots are wide, mid, close and sometimes
long shots. Somewhere there are tracking shots. This is one of the characteristics
of cinematography of this film. Camera movements are also very important in the
film. This creates varieties in shot divisions. Besides, different kinds of
angles are noticeable in this film. These all play an important role to make varieties
among the shots.
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| Jean-Pierre Léaud in a still Frame of The 400 Blows (1959) Movie |
Mise-en-Scene:
MIse-en-scene means the arrangements of scenery and
props. There are some indoor shooting in this film. But the sets are not made
artificially. These are houses of the actors or actresses. This scenery creates
the reality of the events and situation. Most of the shoots are shot in
outdoor. So, the background scenery seems alike real scenery and situation. The
audiences will prefer to watch real scenery without indoor shooting. So, the
real scenery will be visible to the audiences. People like natural beauty and
natural scenery. In this film, the natural scenery and the arrangements of
props will be authentic to the audiences.
The use of light:
The use of light in this film is very low, actually artificial
light. In outdoor shooting, natural light is used without artificial light. But
sometimes, we notice that in indoor shooting, artificial light has been used.
Acting:
Jean-Piere Leaud as Antoine Doinel plays the role of
the main character. Besides, Albert Remy, Claire Maurier (as Antoine’s
parents), Patrick Auffray as Rene have played other roles. Their acting is
natural, realistic and authentic. Most of the French New wave films are of this
kind of. There is no overacting or extra activity.
Sound & Music:
Music is composed by Jean Constantin. The use of
background sound or music in this film is very important. Sound and music have
been used in this film with the realistic scenery. Music has made a continuity
of sequences.
Editing:
The film is edited by Marie-Josephe Yoyotte. Most of
the films of French New Wave are edited in Italian Neorealist style. The 400
Blows is also edited in this style.
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