The 400 Blows (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

Francois Truffaut's autobiographical first feature that is also a founding entry into the French New Wave explores a decadent French society, juvenile delinquency, and a heartbreaking journey of broken families and adolescence. It also ends with one the most famous closing shots in all of cinema. Antoine Doinel turns to stare right at us on the beach suspended between his past and his future. The Doinel character is played by an astounding 14-year-old Jean-Piere Leaud who would go on to collaborate in much of Truffaut's filmography over the next 15 years or so continuing his semi-autobiographical stand-in for Truffaut. Treating troubled, "quirky" teens as criminals is nothing new but this film will provide a journey of the unvarnished complexities that lead some youth down a difficult path. So detached are the adults in this film one wonders how the young people essentially running the streets survive at all. The low bar of expectations rules here. Truffaut's own troubled youth hung by a thread, and he had always stated it was truly his love of cinema that saved him.As per usual, Criterion does a great job at remastering this film for Blu-ray. Grain is nicely present and tight showing good detail. Greyscale is smooth with bright whites popping. The mono LPCM audio provides solid dialog and non-distorted music. Supplements are numerous and varied. Especially interesting are some rare audition footages of the cast. This is an essential addition to a proper physical media movie collection. Highly recommended.

Was surprised how much I enjoyed this one. This is semi-autobiographical of director Francois Truffaut's childhood and you can't help but feel for young Antoine here.Wish Criterion would put out the rest of the films Truffaut and actor Jean-Pierre Leaud made about the life of Antoine Doinel.

product as described, thank you

It took me years to see this film. Love the black and white. This movie is a joy to watch. A teenage sort of coming of age story revolving around aimlessness, restlessness, and delinquency, albeit, of the 1940's, early 1950's kind.

Great film, love Criterion films because of the quality, and the special features. Especially with some of the older and classic films you can learn a lot about how, why, or who made the film. And of course this film is a classic for many reasons. The last shot in the film is still arresting and stunning even after all of these years.....

One of the best films ever made about adolescence. Great Criterion with extras

I had forgotten how much I loved this film the first time I saw it. This time I watched to analyze the film and learned new things. I rarely enjoy watching films over again because I don't like to know what is going to happen next, but Truffaut is a master. You will always see or learn something new. And of course, this is supposedly one of Truffault's most autobiographical film so it is a must see.

The first time I saw this was in college. It stuck with me ever since. The image of Antoine running. He never stops.