For young Parisian boy Antoine Doinel, life is one difficult situation after another. Surrounded by inconsiderate adults, including his neglectful parents, Antoine spends his days with his best friend, Rene, trying to plan for a better life. When one of their schemes goes awry, Antoine ends up in trouble with the law, leading to even more conflicts with unsympathetic authority figures.

A seminal French New Wave film that offers an honest, sympathetic, and wholly heartbreaking observation of adolescence without trite nostalgia.

'The 400 Blows' stands as a masterful French New Wave landmark, celebrated for Jean-Pierre Léaud's extraordinary natural performance, remarkable realism, and authentic coming-of-age storytelling that avoids sentimentality. Truffaut's directorial vision and thoughtful screenplay earn widespread praise for their honest portrayal of troubled adolescence and dysfunctional family dynamics. However, the film proves divisive regarding engagement, with some finding it deeply moving while others describe it as emotionally flat or forgettably lifeless despite its technical merits.