Les Quatre Cents Coups or To Raise Hell or 400 Blows

Celebrating More M's this Month ! M for Movies in M for March!                                                                                 

I happened to watch Antoine and Colette sometime back.  I liked it so much I watched it again. After getting to know Antoine and Colette are only part of a larger anthology, I knew I couldn't not watch the other 4 parts of the series. Antoine and Colette is the second part of the 5 pieces of the anthology. This post is about the first part of the series called Les Quatre Cents Coups also translated into English as Raising Hell or 400 Blows directed by Francois Truffaut where Antoine is a little boy. 

Antoine in checks and his friend

400 Blows is about a 12 year old boy that goes through a series of unpleasant adventures. But somehow, because of his strength and his positive personality, throughout the movie, I am nothing but in awe of him. This movie somehow reminded me of how I felt while reading The kite runner. You see things from a child’s perspective and the whole world around the child can seem brutal. Although, Raising Hell is not as intense a story as the Kite Runner. 400 Blows brings out in us, much milder, subtle emotions for Antoine and his world. 

When Antoine runs away from home and then steals milk, the first thought that crosses my mind is how hard it must have been, for a 12 year old Antoine to starve all night and then to be compelled to steal just to feed himself. Truffaut is successful in making us focus on ordinary strives. 

Antoine in Class

When Antoine’s mom promises him a 1000 franks for a good essay, Antoine works hard towards his essay and instead, gets accused of plagiarism and gets thrown out of class. Antoine's father slaps Antoine for lighting a candle in front of his favorite authors photo, which accidentally burns a curtain in the house. At that point, I thought, for once the kid is trying to do something right and everyone seems to turn against him. At the juvenile center, a psychiatrist asks Antoine, that his parents said that Antoine lies all the time.  Antoine responds saying, “Oh, I lie now and then, I suppose. Sometimes I'd tell them the truth and they still wouldn't believe me, so I prefer to lie.” He is clearly a misunderstood child.

Antoine witnessing his mothers infidelity

Truffaut also shows that Antoine is not seeing best examples of morality around him to learn from. Antoine uses knowing about his mothers infidelity as a shield for getting away with skipping school and not being reported to his father. 

Antoine seeing his friend through the glass

The kid gets yelled at, slapped , ignored but, the only time he cries is near the end of the movie. That too, its just one tear. Throughout most of the movie, his face is very innocent but stoic.He sheds a tear when he is being taken away to jail and he is in a barred truck, seeing himself move away from everything he knows. He does not bawl in that truck, he just leaves to find another world to be in. That one tear does not seem like a sign of weakness. It seems like a sign of his vast threshold for catastrophes. Maybe that one tear, is a, ‘I am so relieved to not have to go home’ tear. Maybe its a tear for when he decides, that chapter of his life which meant the world to him at one point, is now closed. Maybe that one tear is for being cut off from everything he loves, his friends, his warm sleeping bag, the movie theater and the city. You know from that crucial barred truck scene, that the one tear is going to make him stronger, not weaker. Its a scene that shows his transformation into coming of age and doing what adults do, conform. He is forced to conform behind those bars. But the viewer wonders if that will stick for too long?

Antoine in Juvenile system

When he is being questioned by the juvenile center, he never once feels sorry for lying, or stealing, or running away from home.He doesn't seem like the type to stop and blame himself for something he does not deserve blame for.  He is confident in his statements and believes what he did was right and he tells the psychiatrist with dignity that he prefers to lie.

Antoine Running- Long and Single shot scene

Everything he is doing is for self preservation. The last scene when he is running miles away from the juvenile center and towards the sea, it is a one straight long shot, which builds up anticipation about where Antoine might end up once he stops running. But, once he reaches the sea and you see him playing in the water, there is no more curiosity. I felt a sudden relief to see Antoine was free from the Juvenile center and that he was where he always wanted to be. Right in the middle of the movie, there is one scene when he casually tells his friend, he wants to go to the ocean. So, Truffaut ending the movie with Antoine playing in the water at the sea,is a fantastic time to Fin. It takes load off your chest, that he is out and away from all the bars, and it also makes you curious about, whats next for this 12 year old. But, from all the escapades Antoine has been through, Truffaut gives the viewer confidence that, Antoine is going to be just fine. 

Antoine's step  father and mother 

What I love about Antoine is, how he is winging it every step of the way, that too, with a lot of confidence. Antoine seeks out the best in the worst of situations. Antoine is someone who looks at the bright side of life. He is not raising hell, he is reaching for things that make him happy. He does not give up easily, he keeps stomping through the many thorns and reaches his destination, even if it took him repeated escaping. 

Antoine at the beach YAY !

Truffauts elements in 400 Blows of common adolescent and human circumstances, makes 400 Blows a crucial movie that defines the French New Wave.This movie brings out supple feelings in us, using very plain and simple life situations. Transformations during adolescence for most people can be hard and challenging. We can all relate to Antoine in some form or the other, or, we may identify with him in every situation and scene. The viewers heart goes out to him. At the end though, there is definitely a feeling of his freedom, a feeling of his victory and a feeling of him looking forward to more.


If you are curious about Antoine, instant watch it on Amazon for $3 :) He has 4 more movies after 400 Blows and I absolutely enjoyed Antoine and Collet !