400 Blows, The (Les Quatre Cents Coups)

"The 400 Blows (Les Quatre Cents Coups)," meaning "to raise hell" is François Truffaut's first feature film, and takes an intimate look at the maturation of a young Parisian delinquent, Antione Doniel (Léaud). A semi-autobiographical film of the director's life, Antoine spends his first years shunned by his parents. Forced to make himself invisible, he takes refuge in the cinema, playing hooky and committing minor crimes. The character of Doniel is brought to life through the combination of Truffaut's script and actor Léaud, who was "an antisocial loner on the brink of rebellion." (Gary Reber)