The 400 Blows

The film is unlike the other films we watched in class in many ways. The most obvious difference is where it was filmed. The other films were filmed on a designed set and this one was filmed on the streets of France with other locations such as the school and the small apartment. It added a more “real” factor to it since the Hollywood classics had deliberately designed sets. The other way is how the camera moves. It is not stationary and it follows Antoine when he runs. The camera is constantly moving with long takes. At times it looks shaky and it gives a found footage film vibe. It looks like the camera is bobbing on water and there’s also aerial like shots which I think we didn’t see in other films. An example of this is when Antoine’s class is jogging and the camera is looking down from a building. Another thing I noticed is the constant use of jump cuts which doesn’t disrupt the continuity of the film.

I enjoyed the film because it feels relatable. The fact that it is a semi-autobiographical film about Francois Truffaut adds an extremely personal touch. Its about the misbehaving actions of a child named Antoine Doinel. The kid is a misbehaving one but one with an sympathetic background. It feels as though everyone except for his school friends are out to get him. The mother acts as though Antoine chooses to act out but she is one of the main reasons for misbehaving. The constant disregard for his feelings and neglect is appalling sometimes. School is supposed to be a safe zone for children but also at school he is berated by the teacher sometimes physically. The part that made me feel bad for Antoine is when he left his home and struggled to live in the streets though it was for a short while. Then when he comeback, the mother acted so out of character and was nice to him. They even had a family night but Antoine continued to suffer throughout the film.