MovieChat Forums > Les quatre cents coups (1959) Discussion > Almost embarrassed by not liking it

Almost embarrassed by not liking it

posted 10 years ago by jonhopper217
25 replies | jump to latest

I'm probably the only cinephile, who has taken film classes, appreciates cinema as an art form who didn't like this film. I greatly appreciate the techniques and subtle nuances used and recognize how many tines they've been copied since, but the story itself left me feeling empty. The pace was painful at times and with the exception of the psychological exam scene, the acting was rather mediocre. If not for the hilarious running scene early on, the aforementioned psych scene and the escape, the movie would have a complete waste. Maybe it's my personal feelings about childhood, adulthood and acceptance that swayed me in my thoughts, but I felt the movie was nothing more than metaphor after metaphor, never giving this viewer the substance I was craving. I realize my views will be neither popular or taken seriously, but other than it's technical merits and it's age, I'm at a loss as to it's reverence.

[–] !!!deleted!!! (14789810) 10 years ago

I thought it beautifully captured youth, and the life of a young troubled boy.

I was very intrigued at the beauty of the film, and the tragedy of a young boy being shaped by discipline rather than human connection and love.

The night is dark and full of terrors
http://www.imdb.com/list/rJuB9UoASlQ/

[–] jhopp217 10 years ago

Never heard this described as beautiful

[–] tonyz119 9 years ago

Wow, beautifully put.

One dog goes one way the other goes the other way and this guy's sayin "Whadda ya want from me?"

[–] rindercella 8 years ago

I thought it beautifully captured youth, and the life of a young troubled boy.

I agree

"Guys like you don't die on toilets." Mel Gibson-Riggs, Lethal Weapon

[–] Swzki 10 years ago

The film was great, yes, but I also felt kind of empty. I'm not sure why. I could feel Antoine's pain, and misery, and I could understand how bad his life was, but for some reason, I felt empty.

[–] jhopp217 10 years ago

Maybe that was it. I wanted to connect with him, but I couldn't. Maybe it's life, movies, etc, but I feel his life wasn't bad, so there was no empathy in my heart for him.

[–] Swzki 10 years ago

I thought his life was bad because nobody cared for him. His parents hated him, the teacher was very rude, etc... he was lost. He had nobody. He had no real friends. He wasn't happy.

There are other films with Antoine Doinel, the main character. Perhaps they're better.

[–] AtoZ2014 7 years ago

It was the era of existentialism, so, yes, the film was great, but one feels a kind of emptiness too.

Truffaut's films have a relatively warm tone (esp. compared to Godard), but, no doubt, there is an emptiness there.

[–] Nobody-27 9 years ago

I find that with films which are as subtle as this one, it is more up to the viewer to see and feel the value than up to the film to scream and make the value obvious.

Most people have lost sense of importance of child in them. We are all little children, even as we age into late years. However, too much pain in childhood tends to make one shut down that part of ego, and there is not much anyone can do about that, except perhaps advise you to look deep inside and try and find that little Antoine Doinel and love him.

We all have it, and cannot help but be touched by this film as a result.

[–] bts1984 9 years ago

True, even as we age we have our childish side, even if we are too proud to admit it.

«I was on the fire escape! I saw ya!»

[–] Strazdamonas 9 years ago

I havent taken any film classes, but i love cinema. didnt like it either. and dont be embarrassed about your preferences. People like different things and thats completely fine.

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Applied Science? All science is applied. Eventually.

[–] jonhopper217 9 years ago

People like different things and thats completely fine.

So you're new here? I'm joking of course. Usually if you say you dislike a classic, you're shown the room to the Transformer Lounge or your mother's basement. I actually went back and caught some scenes and I think that's where the problem is. I can appreciate the process, but I don't like the movie as a whole.

[–] Strazdamonas 9 years ago

hah, i know what you mean by the transformers lounge. got my share of pompous douches on here as well.

Yeah, some movies are hailed as classics based on what they did to the industry rather than the movies they are and thats one of those. it started a new wave of cinema, but in itself it wasnt very good.

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Applied Science? All science is applied. Eventually.

[–] jonhopper217 9 years ago

I think we also have a burden to praise "classics." In the same week, I watched two of Sight & Sound's top 10 of all-time. I watched Renoir's Rules of the Game and came away unimpressed, despite obviously impressed by the camera work. Then I watched Murnau's Sunrise, which I'd never ever heard of until this year, and was amazed at how many directors in the 50's, 60's and 70's are credited with inventing stuff he was doing in 1927 (and in many ways better). It was also, just an incredible movie. Yet, when I mentioned it to people who I consider knowledgeable, they just shrugged...BTW, these are the same people who think The 400 Blows invented today's cinema.

And while not Transformers specifically, I like quite a few of those types in between my classics.

[–] Strazdamonas 9 years ago

Often the credit of invention goes to those that popularize something rather than those that invent it. such are the limits of public knowledge in many cases. While i would like it to not be so, unnecessarely praising films just because they were first wont fix it.

400 Blows popularized new wave of french cinema, but thats all its influence is.

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Applied Science? All science is applied. Eventually.

[–] Nobody-27 8 years ago

Wrong on so many levels... While Truffaut is one of the French New Wave directors, 400 Blows is probably not the best example of New Wave cinema - of all the films he made (and I've seen them all, most of them more than once).

As for liking or not liking this film, I actually saw it for the first time before I even knew who Francois Truffaut was, when I was about 15-16 years old and I was mesmerized by the film. I saw it by accident on TV and did not plan on watching it, but could not get up and leave.

In every one of us there is a misunderstood child. Following that child can lead to great things in life, which is why Truffaut became a great director (the film is based on Truffaut's own childhood). Perhaps you were blessed to be perfectly understood and loved, so this film does not resonate with you...

[–] AtoZ2014 7 years ago

Murnau's Sunrise is a great, great movie!!! I did a "silent movie project" to justify (to myself) watching Birth of a Nation (1915) and that was one of my favorites.

Renoir's Rules of the Game I didn't appreciate the first time I saw it, but liked it the 2nd time.

[–] donleonshi 9 years ago

Agreed. I watched this yesterday and felt it was dull and overrated. There's just no other words for it in my personal opinion. I was very disappointed, as I was told for years that this was Truffaut's best work. I personally found The Soft Skin more interesting. Though I must say, 400 Blows did remind me of memories of my childhood in some scenes. It was hardly moving or entertaining in any way, and several times I considered actually turning the film off. Hopefully I can find a copy of Day For Night and Shoot The Pianist. I haven't given up on Truffaut just yet.

[–] AtoZ2014 7 years ago

I mean, don't force yourself to watch something if you aren't into it.

Day for Night I love. Shoot the Pianist not so much.

[–] IronBallsM 9 years ago

Nothing embarrassing about not liking crap.

[–] liljebla 8 years ago

I agree with every single point you made there.

[–] ed-pilling 8 years ago

Don’t feel bad for not liking this movie. I am a writer and there are many authors I cannot get into. For the life of me I cant understand them but there are many people that love them. But then there are authors that make some people yawn but I love them. I realize I cant get into every author.