The 400 Blows

François Truffaut’s debut feature, “The 400 Blows,” captures the disillusionment and rebellion of a young Parisian boy, Antoine Doinel, who navigates a world of indifferent adults and oppressive authority figures. Beset by neglect at home and misadventure with his friend René, Antoine’s attempts to carve out a better future are thwarted at every turn, culminating in legal troubles and encounters with a judicial system ill-equipped to understand his plight.