[extra Quality] | The 400 Blows

The 400 Blows

1. Intro – French New Wave context + thesis on childhood/society.
2. Body 1 – Family as failed refuge (mother’s infidelity hint, stepfather’s yelling).
3. Body 2 – School as hypocritical system (rote learning vs. real needs).
4. Body 3 – Paris and flight (spatial freedom vs. institutions; final beach scene).
5. Conclusion – Open ending: Antoine is neither fully free nor recaptured – the “400 blows” are the accumulated wounds of neglect.

As Antoine navigates adolescence, he turns to small acts of delinquency and rebellion, testing the boundaries of authority and searching for a sense of freedom. He forms a bond with a kind and understanding teacher, Monsieur Antibe (played by Albert Rémy), who becomes a source of support and guidance.

Legacy

, a movement that prioritized director-driven, "auteur" storytelling over traditional Hollywood spectacle. Narrative and Themes The film follows Antoine Doinel the 400 blows

Part 5: The Legacy – The Doinel Cycle

François Truffaut's 1959 masterpiece, The 400 Blows Les Quatre Cents Coups Intro – French New Wave context + thesis