``The 400 Blows.'' A new wave from France that fascinates the world, ``Nouvelle Vague.''

“The 400 Blows” Synopsis

Every day is a struggle for 12-year-old Antoine Doinel. Antoine, an impressionable boy who attends an all-boys school, is obsessed with women, mischief, and movies. However, because he stands out in some way, he is always the enemy of adults. The angry adults say that Antoine is in a rebellious phase, but...

Index

• Japanese title that captured the hearts of children
• The new wave “Nouvelle Vague” came from France
• The wonders of Truffaut's technique

Japanese title that captured the hearts of children

``The 400 Blows'' - I saw this Japanese title in a movie magazine, instantly remembered it, and it became an unforgettable phrase. It was a magical Japanese title that touched my heart as a junior high school student at the time. I couldn't find it at my local video rental store, so when I finally came across it at a slightly larger video rental store further afield, I was so happy that I immediately reached out for it. This is the story of Antoine Doinel, a boy who was around the same age as me at the time. After watching it, for some reason I felt like running like Antoine. Yes, as a junior high school student, I was completely inspired.

"The 400 Blows" Preview

12-year-old Antoine Doinel (Jean-Pierre Léaud). At school, he gets scolded a lot and hates studying, and at home, his mother (Claire Maurier) and stepfather (Albert Remy) don't get along well, so he has nowhere to go. Moreover, the house is cramped in a small apartment. The only time he has fun is when he's skipping school with his best friend René (Patrick Auffée) and when he thinks about his favorite novelist, Balzac.

However, such fun times don't last forever. While I was slacking off, I witnessed my mother hugging another man. Then, school finds out that he slacked off and that he copied Balzac's text. Still, my best friend Rene was the only one who protected me. Then, wanting money, Antoine takes a typewriter from his stepfather's office and is sent to a juvenile detention center.

The new wave “Nouvelle Vague” came from France