The 400 Blows

Les quatre cents coups

Francois Truffaut's first feature is also his most personal. Told through the eyes of Truffaut's cinematic counterpart, Antoine Doinel (Jean-Pierre Leaud), THE 400 BLOWS sensitively re-creates the trials of Truffaut's own childhood, unsentimentally portraying aloof parents, oppressive teachers, and petty crime. The film marked Truffaut's passage from leading critic to trailblazing auteur of the French New Wave.

Winner of Best Director and nominated for the Palm d'Or at the 1959 Cannes Film Festival. Nominated for one Academy Award (Best Writing - Directly for the Screen) and two BAFTA awards (Best Film from any Source, Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles - Jean-Pierre Leaud).