The 400 Blows (400 Darbe)

The 400 Blows is François Truffaut's feature directorial debut, released in 1959, and one of the defining works of the French New Wave. Co-written by Truffaut and Marcel Moussy and shot on location in Paris and Honfleur, the film draws heavily on the director's own childhood, resulting in a semi-autobiographical portrait of troubled youth.

The story follows twelve-year-old Antoine Doinel, who finds no peace at home with his indifferent parents or at school under harsh teachers. After skipping class and turning to petty theft, he is caught returning a typewriter stolen from his stepfather's workplace, a misstep that leads him to a juvenile detention center. Jean-Pierre Léaud stars, alongside Claire Maurier and Albert Rémy. The film won the Best Director award at Cannes, earned an Oscar nomination for its screenplay, and launched a five-film series in which Léaud reprises the role of Doinel.