Unrated, 1 hr. 37 min. Directed By:
François Truffaut. Release Date:
Nov 16, 1959. DVD Release
Date: Mar 24, 1998.
The
400 Blows sneaks up on you. It’s like that weird uncle or cousin that you
in spite of its faults. It’s an almost
stereotypical French tale: oppressive
drama, events that seem unusual, but no one else seems to think so, and random
casual bits of sexuality. It’s a tale
that in some ways mirrors my own life.
There’s an overbearing mother, a stepdad that waffles between friend and
parent, some rebellion in the face of that authority (some rebellion from me,
lots from Antoine). I waited until long
past 12 to finally blow up, but I guess it was healthier in some ways for
Antoine to wreck his future for the sake of his present.
I have a single real problem with
this movie. There’s no conflict. None.
Antoine doesn’t even get in a schoolyard fistfight. The mood is troubled and pensive, but there
doesn’t seem to be a cause. I’m thinking
that some of the problems Antoine faces are solved in future installments of
Truffaut’s saga. At least, I hope so,
because I plan on watching them all. The 400 Blows has the force to be some
serious story bait. I’m putting a lot of
energy behind that hope, because I really, really want to know how Antoine
shapes up in his future. He was a messed
up kid. Really messed up, but he isn’t
really a bad kid. I kind of like this
guy in a way I wouldn’t have expected to, given how the movie shapes up. It’s clear that he has regrets for the things
he’s done, none of which are all that terrible, at least not by modern
standards.
So I like the kid. Kind of a lot. He made me smile, and laugh a little. His antics are funny in that grade school
way. His parents kind of suck in a
neglectful way. He sleeps in a sleeping
bag on what looks like a couch placed so close to the front door of the family
apartment that everyone coming or going has to wake him up. It the front door wasn’t in an enclosed
foyer, he’d be sleeping in the living room.
He hasn’t become a soulless bastard that picks on those weaker than
himself. He hasn’t murdered his parents
and tried to explain it with “stress.” I
wish his life was in a better place. He
deserves… better than was his lot in life.
I’m wondering a little at the name
of the film… and the posters suggest something that I didn’t see. Anyone know if the DVD version of The 400 Blows is edited to remove
violence? The title could be
metaphor. I do speak French; metaphor
and I don’t get along so well… even though I use them a lot. It’s mostly OTHER peoples’ metaphors that I
don’t get along so well with. Everything
seems to suggest physical abuse from the parents, but I certainly didn’t see
any of that.
I know I’ve been rambling, but here’s
my synopsis: The 400 Blows is an interesting movie. I liked it, even though I think I’m not sure
why. I like the lead role, he’s got
character and… moxie, although that might be slightly redundant. I’m hoping the other movies in this saga help
explain what I’m missing.
