★★★★★ 5
Some of Truffaut's greatest works... and they're wonderful
A reviewer here called these a "waste of time" and "weird movies," giving the set 1 star. Sorry, pal, maybe critically acclaimed films by one of France's--or the world's--most important filmmakers isn't your thing. Nothing "weird" about these very accessible, realistic movies about human beings and life. Truffaut did with this series over a course of 20 years what Richard Linklater did in one movie ("Boyhood")... but between 1959 - 1979, Truffaut's attempt was more ambitious, daring, and envelope-pushing. Lead actor Jean-Pierre Leaud goes from a 14 year old to a guy in his 30s, and he's wonderful in every episode. Each film is touching, funny, dramatic, and worth seeing for anyone interested in world cinema. "The 400 Blows" is Truffaut's debut feature, and what a great one it is. It's more serious than the others in this series, and is likely the most lauded. "Antoine & Colette" is a short film made 2-3 years later. "Stolen Kisses" gets more into comedy and it's a delight. "Bed and Board" continues where the previous one left off. "Love on the Run" is decidedly the weakest but is still enjoyable. Truffaut died too young five years after that one was made. One wonders if he and Leaud might have made another entry in the late 80s or even the 90s. Great stuff.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2025
