The 400 Blows – Frame by Frame Screening

The Modern School of Film’s founder, Robert Milazzo, leads an in-depth, active deconstruction and group-discussion. This screening was created with the cinephile in mind, to delve deeper in the art and craft of film. The active deconstruction format will allow for the instructor to stop the film at points and lead in depth discussions about the techniques being used in the film, as you watch it. Explore the depth and breadth of film as an art form and see films you love in a new way! Not Rated: The 400 Blows Directed by Francois Truffaut (1959) For his feature-film debut, critic-turned-director François Truffaut drew inspiration from his own troubled childhood. The 400 Blows stars Jean-Pierre Léaud as Antoine Doinel, Truffaut’s preteen alter ego. Misunderstood at home by his parents and tormented in school by his insensitive teacher, Antoine frequently runs away from both places. The boy finally quits school after being accused of plagiarism by his teacher. He steals a typewriter from his father to finance his plans to leave home. The father angrily turns Antoine over to the police, who lock the boy up with hardened criminals. A psychiatrist at a delinquency center probes Antoine’s unhappiness, which he reveals in a fragmented series of monologues. Originally intended as a 20-minute short, The 400 Blows was expanded into a feature when Truffaut decided to elaborate on his self-analysis. For the benefit of Truffaut’s fellow film buffs, The 400 Blows is full of brief references to favorite directors, notably Truffaut’s then-idol Jean Vigo. The film won the 1959 Best Director prize at the Cannes Film Festival, even though Truffaut had been declared persona non grata the year before for his inflammatory comments about the festival’s commercialism. (credit: allmovie.com) Will call tickets may be picked up at The Cary Box Office beginning one hour prior to the movie.