Truffaut was a film critic turned film maker and of the founders of the French New Wave.
For years Truffaut stressed the importance of the director as the most influential element of a film. Truffaut believed that the expression of the directors personal vision should be apparent in both the films style and the script.
Truffaut first feature film, The 400 Blows, shows this very presence of vision by the director. The film is largely autobiographical and follows a young man who is unwanted by his parents and has difficultly in school. These elements were lifted directly from Truffaut’s life as he was an illegitimate child unwanted by his mother and her husband and who dropped out of school at 14 to become self-taught.
The film the 400 Blows started the French New Wave movement in 1959. The film being so autobiographical helped to show that the vision of the director is one of the most important aspects in Auteur Theory. It was this very authoritative element that lead the way for other French New Wave cinema directors to truly be the Author of their work.
Being a self taught “Cinephile” and renowned film critic Truffaut truly understood film. He knew the importance of vision and ownership that was required to explore personal complex themes. The main character of the 400 Bows goes thorough such dramatic trials that the only way for a director to fully be able to portray this is to have lived it.
Nearly 20 years later when Truffaut made ‘Day for Night’ in 1973 the same theme of ‘self refection’ and semi-autobiographical themes are present. The film ‘Day for Night’ is a film that portrays the act of making film itself. It Chronicles the production of a film called ‘Meet Pamela’. The production is riddled with drama and set-backs as actors have nervous breakdowns, affairs and one night stands.
Much like the 400 blows about a young boy portraying Truffaut, Day for Night actually has Truffaut playing the film’s director. This plays on a very popular Truffaut theme of whether or not films are more important than life for those who make them. Truffaut believed that cinema was an art form and that directors should hold their work to such high regards.
In 1954 Truffaut wrote an article called “A certain Trend of French Cinema” in which he attacked the current state of French films. This article would later lead to the Auteur Theory, which stated that the director was the ‘Author’ of his work and that great directors, such as Renoir or Hitchcock, have distinct styles that are present in their work. Truffaut is credited with being an early innovator of The French New Wave as well as Auteur Theory.
Director Worksheet
Name: François Truffaut
Year Born: 1932, France
Background (education/upbringing):
Truffaut was an illegitimate child although accepted by his mothers husband. He was expelled from several schools while being passed around by his family. He spent the early part of his life largely unwanted. At the age of fourteen he decided to become self-taught. His academic goals where to watch at least 3 films a day and read three books a week. Truffaut exposed himself to countless foreign films becoming familiar with American cinema directors such as John Ford, Howard Hawks, and Nicholas Ray. Truffaut’s first feature film, The 400 Blows, is a autobiographical story lifted largely from his own life experience.
First Feature: The 400 Blows (1959) was met with critical and commercial success.
Most notable Films: Day For Night (1973)
Genre’s Explored: Romantic Drama (Jules and Jim, 1962) Personal reflection (Day for Night, 1973) Private-guilt vs. Public innocence (Confidentially Yours, 1983)
Stylistic Tendencies: Black and White, Portrayal of Realism
Typical Content: Truffaut explored a wide range of subject matter, from Gangsters (Shoot the Piano Player) to the Female Detective (Confidentially Yours)
Awards & accolades: Truffaut received the Best Director award for the 400 Blows from the Cannes Film Festival and the Academy Award for Best Writing. Day for Night won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film in 1973.
Long-term collaborators: Truffaut met Andre Bazin in 1948 at Truffaut’s film club. The two would become life long friends and collaborators.
Interesting facts/ etc: In 1954 Truffaut wrote an article called “A certain Trend of French Cinema” in which he attacked the the current state of French films. This article would later lead to the Auteur Theory, which stated that the director was the ‘Author’ of his work and that great directors, such as Renoir or Hitchcock, have distinct styles that are present in their work. Truffaut is credited with being an early innovator of The French New Wave as well as Auteur Theory.
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