The Visual Style of 400 Blows

I’m one of those people that believes that the way in which a film is shot can make or break it, and the way in which 400 blows is shot definitely makes it. There was something very raw and real about this film, from the initial shaky pan shots to the interesting subjective shots, to the highly emotional close up shots this film was a good visual representation of the pre-maturity and roughness that Antoine himself represents throughout the film. If this film were made today in the flashing lights realm of Hollywood that exists now, it would be passed off as a low budget independent film, however it’s all those qualities that make this film the classic that it is!