The 400 Blows ((install)) -

Truffaut and his cinematographer, Henri Decaë, discarded the "Tradition of Quality" that dominated French cinema at the time. Instead of polished, artificial lighting, they used:

. It refers to the rebellious behavior and "shenanigans" of youth testing societal limits. Plot and Themes The 400 Blows - Santa Barbara International Film Festival the 400 blows

"The 400 Blows" was one of the first films to emerge from the French New Wave movement, a cinematic revolution that sought to break away from traditional filmmaking techniques and tell stories that were raw, personal, and authentic. Truffaut, along with fellow directors Jean-Luc Godard and Éric Rohmer, was at the forefront of this movement, which emphasized location shooting, handheld camera work, and a focus on the everyday lives of ordinary people. Plot and Themes The 400 Blows - Santa