...in Antoine Doinel. Of course it is acknowledged that he is in large part Truffaut himself, but the translation to film is perfection. This is also in large part to the actor Jean-Pierre Leaud, who plays the character as love-starved but never self-pitying. My heart broke to see him neglected by his mother.
Together Truffaut and Leaud have, without sentimentality or preachy moralizing made this a character to love. I breathlessly watched him stumble through life, taking two steps back for every forward one. Until the heart-stopping final scene, which is beautiful in its simplicity, when despair turns to hope. Absolutely brilliant.
Together Truffaut and Leaud have, without sentimentality or preachy moralizing made this a character to love. I breathlessly watched him stumble through life, taking two steps back for every forward one. Until the heart-stopping final scene, which is beautiful in its simplicity, when despair turns to hope. Absolutely brilliant.