François Truffaut’s Les Quatre Cents Coups is a beautifully observed and deeply moving film about childhood, loneliness and rebellion. It follows Antoine Doinel, a young Parisian boy who struggles with an unhappy home life and an unsympathetic school system.

What makes the film so powerful is the sympathy Truffaut shows towards Antoine. Rather than portraying him simply as a troublesome child, the film allows us to understand his frustrations and his desperate desire for freedom and affection. Jean-Pierre Léaud gives a remarkably natural and memorable performance in the central role.

The film has a freshness and spontaneity that still feels modern, helped by Truffaut’s lively camera work and his affection for the streets of Paris. The famous final shot, in particular, leaves Antoine’s future uncertain and gives the film its lasting emotional impact.

Les Quatre Cents Coups is both a touching portrait of a neglected childhood and a landmark of the French New Wave. It remains an engaging, compassionate and remarkably timeless film.