Antoine and Colette by François Truffaut

Category: Non-English

Part of an omnibus, Antoine and Colette by François Truffaut is obviously the most stand out film from this lot. Taking on the task of furthering his character from The 400 Blows, Antoine Doinel returns for his first love affair with Colette who treats him like a friend and worse still her parents treat him like a son/lost cousin.

He continues to love her, does everything he must - note that most of this is largely semi-autobiographical. Truffaut eventually brings down the curtain on this love story which is actually quite brutal on his protagnoist but is carried out on a much lighter vein.

Recommendation level: 5/5 - the short serves it's purpose in eventually setting up the technical masterpiece Love on the Run.

Les Salades de l'amour

Category: Non-English

Not to much add in here, there's tons of features on Antoine Doinel and his adventures in Truffaut's universe. There's a lot of interviews with Truffaut himself revealing so much about the film-maker that we're not aware of.

There's also Les Mistons, Truffaut's first official short film about a group of boys who harass a young couple. Based on a novel the film has some trademark cuts and of France, this time in the country side too. Working with child actors again, you can see a decent amount of the 400 blows in this film, in fact he's improved so much for the 400 blows.

For the first time I think I was very emotional when you hear about his old screen writer friends talking about the greatness of Truffaut and the legacy he has created, the kind of films he stood for and the kind of work he had done before he started films. So much to learn from his personality.

Recommendation level: 5/5 - This is a little rare to come across but do find it if you can!

Love on the Run by François Truffaut

Category: Non-English

Antoine Doinel's character gets a final good bye in this film, even though Truffaut seems utterly disappointed at doing this. Vehemently admitting that Bed and Board was meant to be the final straw it is clear in some ways Truffaut doesn't have the same passion we see in the eyes of the young Antoine from the 400 Blows. By the time Bed and Board was completed, Truffaut wasn't happy with the product. He isn't with this either.

The movie features all the loves Mr. Doinel has encountered right from Collete to Christine to Sabine at the end. The film is brilliant for it's technical aspects because of the flash back. At the heart of it however it's a film that probably works for most people as a conventional send off. Perhaps that's where it disappoints.

Yes it's Love on the Run, but it's more about having love while running. Doinel isn't the most patient character we've come across, there's always some solid writing that goes behind it. There's more references to literature this time too.

Color to Black and White, cutting up images with memory. Truffaut is brilliant and completely in control of everything you're watching, even though it doesn't look like his best work.

Recommendation level: 4.5/5

Bed and Board by François Truffaut

Category: Non-English

Bed & Board is another return to his favorite character - Antoine Doinel. After having finally met the girl of his dreams - Christine in Stolen Dreams. This time Antoine moves away from being a Florist to working for an American Hydraulics company based in Paris. He meets a Japanese lady and gleefully worlds in love with the world she brings. Changes, variety.

Before all of this though he has a child and while his wife is bummed out initally she eventually figures out what to do. They split and Antoine must now spend time with his new found love.

There's plenty of architecture on display in the film, John Ford, shots at the army and plenty of literary references keep this film highly riveting for most fans of the new wave. I am not sure how the peasants would react.

Recommendation level: 4.5/5 - Yeah, the bar has become so tight, you're not going to see stupid films get a higher rating! Do yourself a favor and watch this movie, well before that do yourself a favor and watch the previous chronicles

Stolen Kisses by François Truffaut

Category: Non-English

Although not one of the hardest films to watch from the French new wave, Truffaut beautifully structures this movie, which incidentally hails the return of Antoine Doinel (first seen in The 400 Blows) to cinema. Antoine has now been discharged from the army and is on his way to the city. He decides to make ends meet with a few odd jobs prominent and the one in most focus is his stint as a Detective.

There's obvious references towards American detectives, Hitchcock and more, Truffaut is completely in control of the film.

Langlois, DuGaulle, Charles Trenet, Duality of Antoine Doinel, Emotion.

A few topics worth looking at before fully investing your time into this film, if you want to understand the movie of course. The movie is well crafted and definitely a must from the French new Wave.

Recommendation level: 4.5/5 - Because it's not the best of Truffaut's work but ideally aeons ahead of most film makers.