Drama
French (Les Quatre Cents Coups)
1959 · Directed by François Truffaut · 99 min
Antoine Doinel is a Parisian boy of about thirteen, squeezed between a cramped apartment, a strict school and parents who barely notice him. Truffaut's first feature follows his small acts of rebellion with sympathy, humour and a very light touch.
Why it matters in cinema history
A defining film of the French New Wave and a landmark of the coming-of-age story, it moved young people's inner lives from the margins of cinema to its centre.
Watch with intention
Watch how the film refuses to judge Antoine and instead lets the camera simply stay with him, so his view of the adult world becomes ours.
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