The 400 Blows (1959)

I watched this September, 2009

Initial Reaction: Its foreign, so it took more work, but it was worth it.

Major Actors: Jean-Pierre Leaud; Francois Truffaut directed, his debut

My Thoughts: This is a great look inside the mind and motivations of a child raised in the modern world. When left to his own by disengaged and rather banal parents, he goes with his heart, which is wicked and yet desiring something more. In the end, I was struck by the power and pathetic end to his strong desire to “go to the ocean.” Though Truffaut certainly did better work as he gained his stride, this is a really strong debut.

Recommendation: If you like character pieces, don’t mind working, this is a really well-filmed piece.

~ by u2isgr8 on October 27, 2009.