What defines French New Wave cinema? On the surface, it could be a specific energy and raw production aesthetic — jump cuts, freeze frames and raw, existential dialogue. But for the filmmakers responsible for some of La Nouvelle Vague’s most enduring films of the late 50s and early 60s, it’s much more, as they weren’t necessarily attempting to revolutionize modern cinema. Well, at least that’s the case for François Truffaut, a former juvenile delinquent who utilized his knowledge of classic French cinema and lesser-known American directors to create a distinctive style all his own. In 1959, Truffaut released his feature debut, The 400 Blows (Les Quatre Cents Coups), a semi-autobiographic film that blends style with substance, and directorial polish with narrative heart. Not only did this film transform French cinema, but it inspired a world of cinephiles with its visual language and powerhouse lead performance from a young Jean-Pierre Léaud. In this first episode of our series, Riding the Wave, we explore The 400 Blows, and its troubled adolescent protagonist finds solace in cinema, and how his life experiences form his worldview. Full disclosure: Truffaut and the Cahiers du Cinéma crowd who helped start the French New Wave (aka La nouvelle vague) inspired me to create my own film criticism outlet entitled Vague Visages.


Check out Fandor's collection of French films now available to stream. Stayed tuned for new episodes of Riding the Wave, coming soon. In the meantime, watch our odes to one of our favorite French masters, Agnès Varda, as we celebrate the beauty of her sounds and images.

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