"The 400 Blows" by Francois Truffaut
Write a 4-6 page essay (Times New Roman, double-spaced, 1 inch margins), you will use the film "The 4oo Blows" by Francois Truffaut for this assignment.
Reflect on the national and international forces influencing the development of film’s language and messages.
Discuss how your chosen film’s formal structural patterns, economics, material conditions, technical developments and/or meanings are situated within an international context – and whether or not the film’s ideology successfully or problematically reflects its internationality.
Questions to consider:
In what ways is the film an international project? How does it rely on other cinemas to generate meaning?
In what ways does the film present itself internationally and nationally?
How do you see that international/national character affecting its story, the structure of its plot, its mise-en-scène, settings, character, editing, camera work, sound)? What does it MEAN that the film is international, and in what ways does it still speak to its national character?
Does it successfully negotiate an international ideology?
The 400 Blows is a 1959 French coming-of-age drama film directed by François Truffaut. The film stars Jean-Pierre Léaud as Antoine Doinel, a misunderstood adolescent in Paris who struggles with his parents and teachers due to his rebellious behavior.
The film is considered to be one of the defining films of the French New Wave, and it has been praised for its innovative use of techniques such as jump cuts, handheld camerawork, and long takes. The film also explores themes of alienation, childhood, and the nature of reality.
International Influences
The 400 Blows is a product of both national and international influences. Truffaut was influenced by the films of the Italian neorealist movement, such as The Bicycle Thieves (1948) and Rome, Open City (1945). These films were characterized by their use of location shooting, non-professional actors, and a focus on social realism.
Truffaut was also influenced by the films of the American independent cinema, such as The Wild One (1953) and Rebel Without a Cause (1955). These films explored the lives of rebellious teenagers, and they helped to shape the depiction of adolescence in The 400 Blows.
National and International Presentation
The 400 Blows presents itself both internationally and nationally. The film's use of location shooting and non-professional actors gives it an international flavor. However, the film also deals with specifically French themes, such as the French educational system and the French family.
The international/national character of the film affects its story, the structure of its plot, its mise-en-scène, settings, character, editing, camera work, sound, and meaning. The film's international character allows it to speak to a wider audience, and it also helps to create a sense of alienation for Antoine, who feels like he doesn't belong anywhere.
International Ideology
The 400 Blows successfully negotiates an international ideology. The film's themes of alienation, childhood, and the nature of reality are universal, and they can be understood by audiences from all over the world. However, the film also retains its French identity, and it provides a unique perspective on the French experience.
Conclusion
The 400 Blows is a film that is both international and national. The film's international influences help to give it a universal appeal, while its national identity allows it to provide a unique perspective on the French experience. The film successfully negotiates an international ideology, and it is a classic example of the French New Wave.
In addition to the questions you posed, I would also like to consider the following questions in my analysis:
How does the film's use of language (both spoken and visual) reflect its international/national character?
How does the film's treatment of time and space reflect its international/national character?
How does the film's representation of gender and race reflect its international/national character?
I believe that these questions will help to provide a more comprehensive analysis of the film's international/national character.
Reference
Truffaut, F. (Director). (1959). Les quatre cents coups [The 400 blows]. Les Films du Carrosse.