LES QUATRE CENTS COUPS (The 400 Blows, 1959) *** François Truffaut made this movie real. Very stark, sociological pathological in black & white. Ethically criminal adults judging a bored kid who never had a chance. Claire Maurier is striking as the self-obsessed mother, and there are moments that illuminate how powerful even the slightest amount of motherly love can be. The scene where Jean-Pierre Léaud and his little friend are at the puppet show discussing the economics of pawning stolen property is probably being held over in Marxist heaven. There's hardly any music, and what there is doesn't bring much relief. It's strange to think that's how it is for some people. There are hints of relief from cinema, and you can only end up hoping that it worked out that way for Truffaut.
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