Francois
Truffaut, a French New Wave filmmaker, directed "The 400 Blows," his
first feature. "The 400 Blows" is the story of a french boy that
faces challenges in school, with his family, and with himself. The story
reveals to its audience the importance of a caring family that loves and
supports you. The protagonist, Antoine, shows how with a lack of familial
bonding, a young boy can quickly become a grown man.
French
New Wave films are known for long tracking shots, quick clips, jump cuts,
environmental changes, and the breaking of the 180 degree rule. Francois
Truffaut uses many very long tracking shots throughout "The 400
Blows." For example, this type of shot is used when Antoine and his friend
run along the streets of Paris or when Antoine spends the night on the streets.
These shots contrast the quick cuts at the end of scenes. Often, after quite a
long shot, Truffaut will cut from one location to another very promptly,
helping move the story along. The best example of this in "The 400
Blows" is in the last scene when Antoine finally gets to see the ocean.
The camera follows his journey from the military academy all the way to the
ocean: freedom.
This is my favorite shot of the
entire film. It is long, but purposeful.
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