In the case of the 400 blows, it is certain that doinel is based on truffaut, himself only 28 when he made the film. For our landmark 400th episode, filmmaker bill scurry cohost of the i dont get it podcast returns to discuss the origins of the french new wave and francois truffauts debut feature film the 400 blows. Written by truffaut and marcel moussy, the film is about. For the transcript and a detailed list of sources, see. The 400 blows essays are academic essays for citation. Truffaut then became an auteur himself, starting with the 400 blows, which won him the best director award at cannes and led the french newwave charge. Focus on truffaut and his key films, especially the 400 blows. The ripples created by this cinematic movement can even be felt today. To say that they were influential is an understatement. The 400 blows is that rare centuryold movie whose message is as powerful today as it has ever been.
Introduce the french new wave style, with comparisons to italian neorealism and hollywood, and use of improvisation, jump cuts, elliptical editing, and selfreflexiveness. Although french new wave is not easily defined, the 400 blows would be quintessential to any understanding of the movement, and one of the better places to start. Only kiss me deadly, which similarly ends in the surf, and leclisse come to mind as potential rivals. The 400 blows will screen at the 2014 melbourne international film festival 31 july 17 august as part of a program stream on jeanpierre leaud, cocurated with philippa hawker. The 400 blows les quatre cents coups francois truffaut. Told through the eyes of truffauts cinematic counterpart, antoine doinel jeanpierre leaud, the 400 blows sensitively recreates the trials of truffauts own childhood, unsentimentally portraying aloof parents, oppressive teachers, and petty crime. It was also a riot against the government, which funded the artists poorly and had imposed a censorship upon the cinema. Francois truffauts first feature, the 400 blows les quatre cents coups, is also his most personal. Has any critic summed up the 400 blows in quite that way. It is now 60 years since francois truffaut made les quatre cents coups the 400 blows, 1959 and almost as long since.
French new wave, which is also known as french nouvelle vague, can be considered as one of the most influential film movements that took place in the history of cinema. It is considered by many critics as one of the founding films of the french new wave and as a selfhomage to truffauts childhood. The 400 blows remains truffauts seminal film, yet he continued to reinvigorate cinema throughout the sixties, with such thrilling works as shoot the piano player and jules and jim. We see amazing tracking shots in truffauts the 400 blows 1959 in the ending scene when the boy is running out onto the beach towards the ocean. Announcing the 2020 cwa ebert interruptus conference on. Written and directed by agnes varda, it follows a few anxious hours in the life of a singer corinne marchand who is waiting to hear results of a critical medical test.
The 400 blows streaming video ottawa public library. The film marked truffauts passage from leading critic to trailblazing. Francois truffaut, french film critic, director, and producer who was a pioneer in the new wave movement. French new wave in criterion collection taste of cinema. His other notable films included jules et jim and day for night. The french new wave was a rebellion against the bourgeoisie, which was pushing the cinema towards conformity and enjoyment, while repressing the big social problems of the age. Aug 20, 2016 im not necessarily going to write your essay for you, but there are some small similarities that you can use as the springboard for a broader discussion. The 400 blows became one of the first and most influential of the french new wave films it was released around the same time as godards breathless, and, as such, was at the vanguard of a movement that had a worldwide impact on moviemaking for more than a decade. The first page contains a list of cast and crew and a backg. A history of the french new wave cinema richard neupert wisconsin studies in film. Antoine doinel, superbly played by a young jeanpierre. For more films by francois truffaut, as well as other french new wave directors such as agnes varda and jeanluc godard, check the links on the sidebar. The 10 best movies inspired by the french new wave taste.
The emergence of the french new wave nouvelle vague was situated at a time of radical historical transition during the later post world war ii period when the concerns of many french filmmakers differed sharply from traditional french cinema. Truffaut, the nouvelle vague, the 400 blows cosmolearning. The 400 blows film 1959 study guide movie packet by. A young boy, left without attention, delves into a life of petty crime. In 1959 the world was hit with the tripleblow of godards breathless, chabrols les cousins, and truffauts the 400 blows. Truffauts principle of realism through selfexpression and how it changed film forever. As with many films of the new wave movement, the 400 blows is shot primarily on location and explores many of the social issues of the time in france. With brilliant direction by truffaut and a great performance from a young jeanpierre le aud, this is the definitive film from the french new wave. In this document, you will find comprehension and discussion questions in french for the film les 400 coups the 400 blows, francois truffauts new wave masterpiece.
Francois roland truffaut february 6, 1932 october 21, 1984 was one of the founders of the french new wave, and remains an icon of french cinema. Largely autobiographical, it recounts the story of an adolescent boy raising hell which explains the idiomatic french title les quatre cents coups fabe 125. Viewing guide for les 400 coups the 400 blows by alexandra. The first page contains a list of cast and crew and a background and introduction on the film. This release of the 400 blows proves that will be true for their bluray releases as well. Produced by the folks that brought you super bad and sausage party, three friends are desperate to get to a. Truffaut quoted in naomi greene, the french new wave a new look, wallflower press. The 10 best movies inspired by the french new wave the 10 best movies inspired by the french new wave. Truffauts cinematography in the 400 blows is exquisite. It is clear that the french new wave filmmakers have influenced film studies and theory in a major way, and have contributed some of the most important theories on filmmaking. The following sevenpage study guide film packet is used to accompany the francois truffautdirected 1959 french new wave drama les quatre cents coups or in english, the 400 blows. Nov 12, 2012 as one of the few living french new wave directors,alain resnais career spans over six decades, two of his most famous feature films were released by criterion collection,hiroshima mon amour and last year at marienbad,both of which deal with subjects like memories,imaginations and consciousness,especially the latter one,is considered to be. In france, the french new wave was a group of directors who dominated in the world of film production in the 1950s.
Seemingly in constant trouble at school, 14yearold antoine doinel returns at the end of every day to a drab, unhappy home life. Francois truffauts the 400 blows is routinely listed as one of the greatest films in all of foreign cinema. The 400 blows 1959 is francois truffauts brutally honest and emotionally in tuned take on a coming of age drama with his french new wave style. On the surface, it could be a specific energy and raw production aesthetic jump cuts, freeze frames and raw, existential dialogue. Ii auteur theory andthe french new wave,iii frangois. More than any other postnew wave french film, entre nous carries on the humanist tradition that mr. It can be used in an english or film studies classroom. Wes anderson made french dispatch cast watch 5 films before. Les quatre cents coups the 400 blows francois truffaut antoine doinel jeanpierre leaud is a yearold boy who keeps getting into trouble at school. Francois truffauts debut spearheaded the cinematic revolution of the french new wave.
The french nouvelle vague new wave the french new wave of the late 1950s, one of the key movements of postwar european filmmaking, forever altered longestablished notions of cinema style, themes, narrative and audience. Follow james hancock on twitter wr399 dalton trumbo meets metallica wr401 bram stokers dracula 1897 vs 1992. Jeanluc godards 1960 film breathless not only launched the french new wave and made the directors name forever synonymous with french art cinemait also made a star out of its leading man, the theretofore unknown jeanpaul belmondo. Another aspect of the french new wave was that the films were not merely a product of a hollywood factory. Francois truffaut was an expert cinephile, after all. These movies incorporated the film language learned from the old masters adding a new young intelligence and a yearning to stretch the medium as far as it would go. The 400 blows les quatre cents coups a classic 1959 french new wave film directed by. Find out more and purchase tickets at the miff website. Characteristics of the film which are responsible for heralding the new wave. Told through the eyes of truffauts lifelong cinematic counterpart, antoine doinel jeanpierre leaud, the 400 blowssensitively recreates the trials of truffauts own difficult childhood, unsentimentally portraying aloof parents, oppressive teachers, petty crime, and a friendship. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the 400 blows directed by francois truffaut. Wes andersons the french dispatch is four months away from opening in theaters, but moviegoers can start preparing now by viewing the five french movies the director had his cast and crew. A mischievous but misunderstood adolescent boy, having run for about three or four languorous minutes of. The film, shot in dyaliscope, stars jeanpierre leaud, albert remy, and claire maurier.
T he 400 blows, one of the initiating sparks of the french new wave, ultimately boils down to the films trendsetting coda, perhaps the most exclamatory question mark in movies. Directors as diverse as martin scorsese, francis ford coppola, terrence malick, quentin tarantino, and wes anderson, are. He brings up his own past with the autobiographical story told through the lens of. What most of the yanks would take from the french new wave were jump cuts, voiceovers, weird tracking shots. The new wave filmmakers attacked classicliterary style of french cinema. Though every cinephiles favorite label already includes a smattering from the french new wave legend. Francois truffauts first feature is also his most personal. Just as one recognizes the vintage of a great wine by its body, color, and scent, one recognizes a. Explore the rendezvous with french cinema brochure flipbook or read below. French new wave lives on in contemporary filmmaking and. Told through the eyes of truffauts cinematic counterpart, antoine doinel jeanpierre leaud, the 400 blows sensitively recreates the trials of truffauts own. Within a few years, other countries started to take notice first came the uk a hard days night owes a lot to the french new wave and then it began to leak over to america, resulting in the new hollywood era.
The later films have their own merits, and stolen kisses is one of truffauts best, but the 400 blows, with all its simplicity and feeling, is in a class by itself. The new wave or nouvelle vague showed the vibrant realism of paris streets. The 400 blows came first, but breathless captured the spirit of the french new wave better than any of their other films. The 400 blows marked the birth of jeanpierre leaud as crown prince of the french new wave, and of truffaut as its runaway auteur. Dec 20, 2019 that morbid thought is hard to avoid when contemplating the french new wave. Mar 23, 2020 wes anderson fans might want to prioritize watching these five french classics before the july 24 release of the french dispatch.
Posted on may 26, 2016 may 26, 2016 by grace fenlason. The importance of the french new wave essay on behance. Francois truffaut, one of the founding pillars of the french new wave, still radiates inspiration and love for the craft from the movies deemed seminal for european cinema, such as the 400 blows, jules and jim, shoot the piano player, the wild child, day for night, two english girls, the woman next door and many more. The 400 blows, french les quatre cents coups, french film drama, released in 1959, that defined the new wave cinema movement created by young french directors in the late 1950s and 60s. The release of a new edition of the film on janus films essential art house series, however, reminds us that the 400 blows is more than an example of a cinematic style. After being found out and punished for skipping classes, he runs away from. The 400 blows les quatre cents coups french new wave.
Les quatre cents coups is a 1959 french drama film directed by francois truffaut and starring jeanpierre leaud, albert remy, and claire maurier. We sense that it was drawn directly out of truffauts heart. On the 400 blows be ready to answer the following questions in one word or one or two sentences maximum. The 400 blows film analysis truffaut senses of cinema. Truffaut so admires in the work of jean renoir and demonstrates in his own 400 blows. The 400 blows les quatre cents coups a classic 1959 french new wave film directed by francois truffaut.
Wes anderson made french dispatch cast watch 5 films. Truffaut wrote a devilish clever script full of euphemisms and wit. One of the defining films of the french new wave, it displays many of the characteristic traits of the movement. How is the movie the 400 blows by francois truffaut any. His parents have little money and he sleeps on a couch thats been pushed into the kitchen. It was truffauts first feature, and one of the founding films of the french new wave.
In a career lasting just over a quarter of a century, he was screenwriter, director, producer and actor in over twentyfive films. Joe queenan wonders whether the radical french new wave. At the time of its release it was hailed as an important film and subsequently proved to be immensely influential in the context of the french new wave. The 400 blows les quatre cents coups streaming video. Really, coming to know the movementthough interestingis secondary to the profound experience of watching the film. The 400 blows when discussing the french new wave, it is impossible to overlook francois truffauts film the 400 blows. View test prep 400 from acc acc222 at miami university. Les quatre cents coups is a 1959 french new wave drama film, and the directorial debut of francois truffaut. The 400 blows film 1959 study guide movie packet by bradley.
In form and theme, it stands alongside if not above revered classics in the french new wave like. The 400 blows remains a prime example of the stylistic innovations of the french new wave. Told through the eyes of truffauts cinematic counterpart, antoine doinel jeanpierre leaud,the 400 blows sensitively recreates the trials of truffauts own childhood, unsentimentally portraying aloof parents, oppressive teachers, and petty crime. Wr400 the 400 blows and the birth of the french new wave. Auteur theory andthe french new wave frangois truffauts the4ddblows the400blows istheautobiographical firstfeature filmbyfrancois faut, who was twentyseven years old when he made it in 1959. The 400 blows may lack the sheer professionalism and technical polish of many of the films that came before it. This comingofage film follows antoine doinel as he struggles to find himself while constantly being at odds with his parents and school authorities. The main character, antoine, is inspired by truffauts early life as a youth in paris.
A group of critics, who wrote for a french film journal called cahiers du cinema, created the film movement. The nouvelle vague is a school of critics who dare each other actually to try their hand at filmmaking. However this soon changed and after new techniques were developed to revolutionize cinema the french new wave came along and took them to an entire new depth. All in all the french new wave movement has shaped the way contemporary films are and have been made all over the world since the 195060s.
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