Abstract
A French expression ?faire les Quatre Cents Coups' is a common idiom used to describe children who are very undisciplined and disorderly. If correctly reflected and cited, this idiom is an extension from the expression that derives the title of Truffaut's first real film Les Quatre Cents Coups (The Four Hundred Blows). This title is very appropriate with regard to the story of the film. The story centers around the life of a 13 year old boy Antoine Doinel (which is played by Jean-Pierre Léaud). Antoine grows up to be a very careless and a negligent boy. Because of this uncontrolled behavior, Antoine is finally arrested after stealing a typing machine. Nevertheless it should be understood that the intention of the film is not to promote delinquency. Above all, it is regarded as a realistic representation of children and their relationship with adults. It remains that this representation of childhood is undeniably complex, because childhood itself is multifaceted. Firstly we will see that the representation of children in the 400 Blows is a personal and pessimistic approach, as it is partly based on Truffaut's own unhappy and lonely childhood. Secondly we will analyze in detail the circumstances that led Truffaut to depict childhood in a disenchanted and realistic fashion. Thirdly we will discuss the idea that Truffaut's representation of childhood is pessimistic, and we will display that the film also appreciates the spontaneity of childhood in many respects.
