Praised by film-makers and critics the world over, Truffaut's 400 Blows launched the Nouvelle Vogue and paved the way for some of cinema's most important and influential directors.Twelve-year-old Antoine Doinel has troubles at home and at school. Ignored and neglected by his parents, his relationship with his mother is further strained when he discovers that she has taken a secret lover. Added to this, his school teachers have written him off as a troublemaker and, with luck seemingly never on his side, it is Antoine who ends up getting the blame for bad behaviour. Finding refuge only in his love of cinema, Antoine soon finds it necessary to break free, and discover what the world can offer outside of the confines of his everyday life.This remarkable film features the extraordinary talent of Jean-Pierre Leaud as the rebellious Antoine, a character based on Truffaut himself.