The 400 Blows
1959 · Movie · NR · 99 min
★ 8.0(2,380)unSUB Rating
A troubled Paris schoolboy feels trapped between harsh teachers and distant parents, so he escapes into small adventures with a close friend. When a reckless plan backfires, he’s pulled into the justice system and faces a string of unsympathetic authority figures, forcing him to confront what freedom might really cost.
Also known as The Four Hundred Blows
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Details
- Original title
- Les Quatre Cents Coups
- Years
- 1959
- Release date
- 1959-06-03
- Language
- French
- Rated
- NR
- Runtime
- 99 min
- TMDB rating (input)
- 8.0/10 (2,380 votes)
About
You’ll likely connect with this if you want a realistic, emotionally tough coming-of-age story about youth versus authority, with moments of humor and tenderness; Not for you if you need fast pacing or a cheerful tone like Breathless.
Pros: powerful coming-of-age portrait; memorable child performance; humor amid sadness | Cons: heavy, melancholy subject; episodic, low-key plot; distracting dubbed audio
Themes
- adolescence
- paris, france
- balzac
- delinquent
- coming of age
- black and white
- fingerprint
- semi autobiographical
- skipping school
- mugshot
- strict teacher
- montmartre, paris
- +4 more
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Writing, Original Screenplay · 1960 · nominated
Cast & crew
Jean-Pierre Léaud
as Antoine Doinel
Claire Maurier
as Gilberte Doinel
Albert Rémy
as Julien Doinel
Georges Flamant
as Mr. Bigey
- PA
Patrick Auffay
as René
Robert Beauvais
as Directeur de l'école
Yvonne Claudie
as Mme Bigey
Pierre Repp
as Professeur d'anglais
Guy Decomble
as Professeur de français
Daniel Couturier
as Betrand Mauricet
Directed by François Truffaut