The French New Wave- "400 Blows"

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.