The 400 Blows

The footsteps echoing through the gray streets of Paris reveal the silent yet rebellious world of children forgotten in the back rows. In this semi-autobiographical drama, François Truffaut brings to the screen—in black-and-white frames—the struggle for breath of a young body trapped between authoritarian teachers and indifferent adults. School runaways, smoked cigarettes, and the cold wind of Montmartre weave the painful and complex fabric of this challenging coming-of-age story, while the first encounter with law enforcement draws near.