400 Blows

THE 400 BLOWS

REVIEWED BY SHANNON H.

Our rating: 3 out of 5

Because of: sensuality, violence, thematic elements

Rated:

In modern times, studies have often shown that children raised in troubled homes do poorly in school because of the hostile home environment, socioeconomic status, etc. Fortunately, schools and government programs have taken measures to make sure that every student has the opportunity to do well despite major setbacks. In The 400 Blows, this is not the case.

Antoine Doinel is 14 years old. His academic studies are poor because of his lack of interest and motivation and his home life. His parents, especially his mother Gilberte, could care less about him. She's an office worker preoccupied with an adulterous affair. Since his parents are such poor guardians, Antoine repeatedly lies and runs away from home. His latest "boo-boo" was when one of his classmates passes him a magazine with a scantily clad woman on the front and he was blamed by the strict disciplinarian schoolmaster. After school, Antoine goes home only to be nagged by his mother for petty things. His "father" is a little more caring toward the boy, trying to encourage him to try harder and tells his wife that she's being too hard on their son.

Antoine decides to skip school for one day, accompanied by his friend Rene. The two of them spend the entire day in Paris, going on a carnival ride, playing pinball, and going to the movies. The next day, Antoine, after having trouble trying to forge a sick note from a friend, decides to tell his strict teacher that his mother passed away. Luckily for him, the teacher buys into it, but it isn't long until he and his parents find out that he ditched school. His parents are none too happy and while going to bed that night, he overhears their bickering and finds out that his parents don't care about him. Antoine decides to run away from home so after school, and spends the night in a printing factory owned by Rene's uncle.

After hearing about what happened, Gilberte starts to take interest in her son. Antoine then tells her about the times he's lied and done poorly in school. Family life for him improves. Even after accidentally setting his curtains on fire, his parents are quick to forgive. It isn't until Antoine is graded down for plagiarism on a writing assignment that he escapes from home for good for fear that his parents would send him to a military school. To make money, Antoine steals a typewriter from an office to sell on the streets. After being unsuccessful, he tries to return the machine but is caught red-handed by an employee who recognizes him as Julien's son and things soon take a turn for the worse.

The content in this film is mild. Antoine and his classmates look at magazines with a scantily-clad woman on the front, and inside. Julien playfully catches Gilberte from behind and grabs her breasts. Antoine sees his mother kissing another man. There's a glimpse of Antoine's bare behind (briefly) while tucking himself in to bed after taking a bath. A psychologist asks Antoine if he's ever brought a girl to bed (he says he hasn't but knows boys that have done so). Violence involves parents and schoolmasters grabbing young boys by the shirt collar and shoving them into their seats, corners, etc. A boy is slapped twice; once by his father, and once by a reform school worker. The word "hell," is used several times (the French translation of the movie title comes from a French catchphrase meaning "to raise hell"). Antoine is seen smoking a cigarette on two occasions.

The movie is not Christian in nature, but reminds me of something Jesus once said about how a home with a poor foundation cannot stand. Antoine lives in a broken home where his parents do not love or care for him. This environment is unhealthy for a child of any age. Because of his unstable home life, Antoine reacts negatively toward school authority and loses interest in schoolwork. Of course this is simple psychology (not to mention common sense) and anyone who goes into a social work program at a university knows this. In the Biblical sense, God ordains parents and step-parents He feels can do the job. If parents don't follow through, then their children will suffer as a result. This is why Antoine's life at home has a "poor foundation." With a lack of moral upbringing at home, Antoine turns to habitual lying, disobedience, and crime. Even though this film is not intended to be Christian, it does have underlying Christian values. When Antoine catches his mother in the act of adultery, he is confused, hurt, and angry. This is solid proof how sin can damage family life.

I didn't enjoy the film but it was interesting, heart-wrenching, and at times boring. This movie was made in autobiographical form from the viewpoint of the filmmaker, Francois Truffaut, so it gave me an idea of what the filmmaker's youth was like (since I know nothing about him). It was hard for me to watch this poor kid grow up with really bad parents. The idea of me living in that kind of environment would make me want to cry myself to sleep every night. I like how realistic this film is because it allows the reader to feel every emotion, every bit of sadness and happiness from Antoine and no one cannot watch this movie and not feel sorry for the poor boy, either. But I shook my head in frustration as Antoine tried to steal a typewriter and make excuses for taking it. He makes a lot of lame excuses for things he's stolen (he took money from his old and ailing grandmother because he felt that she was going to die soon and not need the money anyway). It's good for its' time and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a thought-provoking film to watch over the weekend.