The 400 Blows (1959)

Drama Directed by François Truffaut
→ Influenced 6 films ← Inspired by 7 films

For young Parisian boy Antoine Doinel, life is one difficult situation after another. Surrounded by inconsiderate adults, including his neglectful parents, Antoine spends his days with his best friend, Rene, trying to plan for a better life. When one of their schemes goes awry, Antoine ends up in trouble with the law, leading to even more conflicts with unsympathetic authority figures.

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Films that influenced The 400 Blows

← Inspired By (7)

Films inspired by The 400 Blows

→ The 400 Blows influenced these (6)

Sources

Influenced By

  1. Zero for Conduct (1933)
    "In a repressive boarding school with rigid rules of behavior, four boys decide to rebel against the director on a celebration day."
  2. Germany, Year Zero (1948)
    "In the ruins of post-WWII Berlin, a twelve-year-old boy is left to his own devices in order to help provide for his family."
  3. Bicycle Thieves (1948)
    "Unemployed Antonio is elated when he finally finds work hanging posters around war-torn Rome. However on his first day, his bicycle—essential to his work—gets stolen. His job is doomed unless he can find the thief. With the help of his son, Antonio combs the city, becoming desperate for justice."
  4. Diary of a Country Priest (1951)
    "An inexperienced, sickly priest shows up in the rural French community of Ambricourt, where he joins the community's clergy. But the locals don't take kindly to the priest, and his ascetic ways and unsociable demeanor make him an outcast. During Bible studies at the nearby girls school, he is continually mocked by his students. Then his attempt to intervene in a family feud backfires into a scandal. His failures, compounded with his declining health, begin to erode his faith."
  5. Modern Times (1936)
    "A bumbling tramp desires to build a home with a young woman, yet is thwarted time and time again by his lack of experience and habit of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.."
  6. Seven Chances (1925)
    "Struggling stockbroker Jimmie Shannon learns that, if he gets married by 7 p.m. on his 27th birthday -- which is today -- he'll inherit $7 million from an eccentric relative."
  7. Sherlock Jr. (1924)
    "A film projectionist longs to be a detective, and puts his meagre skills to work when he is framed by a rival for stealing his girlfriend's father's pocketwatch."

Influenced

  1. The Birth of Children of Paradise (1967)
    "Documentary about the making of Marcel Carne's 1945 film Children of Paradise (France), interviewing the director, the actors and production designer, as well as other French directors."
  2. Boyhood (2014)
    "Richard Linklater has named The 400 Blows among his favorite films and Boyhood's central conceit — following Jean-Pierre Léaud's screen counterpart Ellar Coltrane across years of actual aging — extends Truffaut's casting approach into a literal 12-year shoot." source
  3. Moonlight (2016)
    "Moonlight's closing freeze-frame on Chiron's face is a direct visual quotation of The 400 Blows' iconic final shot of Antoine Doinel — the freeze on a child caught between past harm and unknown future, a gesture Truffaut originated and Jenkins explicitly invokes." source
  4. Rushmore (1998)
    "François Truffaut's film about a rebellious youth significantly influenced Anderson's portrayal of adolescence in *Rushmore*." 10 Movies That Influenced Wes Anderson Ben Sherlock ScreenRant
  5. The Fabelmans (2022)
    "François Truffaut's classic film is a semi-autobiographical account of a troubled youth in Paris. It shares the introspective and personal storytelling approach seen in "The Fabelmans."" The Fabelmans: 10 Best Movies Based On Directors' Real Lives Ben Sherlock ScreenRant
  6. The French Dispatch (2021)
    "François Truffaut's seminal work inspired Anderson's storytelling approach and character development, reflecting a deep appreciation for French New Wave cinema." Wish You Could See Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch? Here’s What to Watch Instead Christopher Rosen Vanity Fair

The 400 Blows (1959), directed by François Truffaut, was inspired by 7 earlier films — including Zero for Conduct, Germany, Year Zero, and Bicycle Thieves — and has been cited as an influence on 6 later works, such as The Birth of Children of Paradise, Boyhood, and Moonlight. Check out the citations below.