The Long Shot

 

 

 

This shot has to be one of my favorite stills from this movie.  This is a long shot of Antoine and his friend are running along the street with the typewriter that they stole.  I find some humor in this shot because these kids seem so out of place, running down the street with a typewriter and you can sense this because the shot includes the bystanders in the background.  You can see their face and the fact that they are finding the while situation odd as well.  I also like the movement that is caused by the birds.  As the children are running with this stolen item, you would think they would want to maintain a low profile.  Instead, they are running and causing this huge disruption for the birds.  As they run through the center of their gathering, all the birds take off, causing a huge commotion which does nothing but draw attention to them.  This shot gives the viewer a sense of chaos, confusion, and urgency by allowing the viewer to take in the whole surroundings of the character including the bystanders, the buildings and the birds.  There is not one specific item in this shot that is more important then another item.  Together, as a whole they form the important picture. 

 

The High Angle Shot

 

 

 

I think in general, the high angle shot is one of my favorite film techniques.  It is like the viewer is a peeping tom; sitting in a tree looking down and spying on the happenings below.  In this specific shot, the kids are trying to unload the typewriting on an individual who will pawn it for them for the cash. They are trying to act inconspicuous because this is obviously against the law.  This shot allows the viewer to be a vouyerer into the underground world of black market typewriters.  As a viewer, it seems like you are getting away with something taboo and this is a perfect sentiment to depict in this exact moment in the film. 

 

 

Some Side Notes 

 

The next set of stills are just something I came across that I felt visually explained the constant struggle for Antoine in being the adult versus the child.

 

 

In this shot, Antoine is trying to return the typewriter he stole form his father's office.  He is caught by the night watchman.  What I find really striking is that Antoine looks like the typical "tough guy" you see adult actors playing.  I immediately thought of Humphrey Bogart in all his tough guy roles.  Compared to most male leads, Bogart was on the shorter end on the height spectrum.  He entered the Navy in 1918 at the age of 18 and was listed as 5'7 & 1/2. 

 

 (Humphrey Bogart - 1942)

 

Edward G Robinson was constantly casted as the though gangster guy and he measured in at 5'5.

 

 (Edward G Robinson - Mid-Late 1930's)

 

 

 James Cagney is another cinematic tough guy who was also only 5'5.

 

 (James Cagney - 1931)

 

 Take a close look at these "tough guys" and a close look at Antoine.  This image of Antoine in the fedora is in my opinion, the directors attempt to show Antoine as the "tough guy, gangster, bad guy" adult that people were so used to seeing in American movies.  The way Antoine's hat is tilted is very similar to how all the "tough guys" wore their hats in the American films.  The look in Antoine's eye is also similar.  He is very much being depicted as the adult in this still. 

 

Now take a look at this picture.

 

 

 This is still our same Antoine who just above was looking like the tough guy adult.  here we see him not too long afterwards and even in the same hat and clothes he looks completely different.  He looks young, innocent, vulnerable and looking as if he just wants direction and love and affection.  It is as if Truffaut was explaining that in his own childhood, no matter the image he was portraying he was just a young kid, looking for love and affection. This for me was truly the point were Truffaut used the camera to express a very personal and vulnerable side of himself and his own childhood. 

 

I just loved this movie.  It was visually stunning and a bit heartbreaking.