Friday, October 10, 2008

400 Coups



I was speaking with a friend about this film some time ago and was really disappointed to hear that he considered it one of the lesser titles to emerge from the French New Wave. Although I do tend to appreciate art inspired by the juvenile delinquent (no doubt because I was one myself not long ago), I also found it really charming. This is mostly due to the young lead played by Jean-Pierre Leaud. Even in the screen test, he shows quite a bit of swagger for such a young man. He really nails the role of the frustrated teen, and it's beautifully shot in 50's Paris; how could you not like this film?