400 Coups seems like real life when you watch it. Truffaut uses hundreds of different filming techniques to achieve this documentary feel. Specifically, he utilizes long 180 degree takes. He makes Paris seem like a stereotypical romantic city, but also a dirty grimy crime ridden slum. He exposes the life of the troubled youth inhabiting the narrow streets of Paris. There is no strange plot line, and I think that is why this film was so widely acclaimed. Truffaut demonstrates a touching rebellious story and pairs it with smooth long shots. Yes, there are jump cuts, but they make complete sense. Truffaut's long takes allow for the character and story to develop within a scene so the audience totally understands what is happening! In addition, the long takes expose beauty and unsightliness. The plot is very sad in itself, but with these long takes the audience is intrigued to pay attention and take in every detail of the city which sometimes fuels an even sadder reaction. Long takes, much like close ups in my opinion, allow the audience and the characters to share an intimate connection. The audience sees the progression of emotions and events happening in real time. Meaning the audience experiences what the characters feel at the exact same time. It feels like the audience is watching a reality TV show on Antoine. My favorite example of this is the final scene that you can watch just by clicking on the button named "le fin". The camera follows Antoine as he jogs across the beach until reaching the ocean. When he finally reaches the ocean the camera zooms in and has a freeze-frame on his face. Antoine looks worried, and confused. It seems as if he is saying "Well what now?". Personally, I felt the same as Antoine did during the last scene. Where would he go? How would he get there? And of course would he be ok? 

400 Coups has a very simple but moving plot line. Antoine Doinel, the main character, is a young 12 year old boy living in Paris with his mother and stepfather. No one seems to understand Antoine and he often acts up in school and at home. One day Antoine and his friend skip school and stumble upon his mother and another man kissing on the street. Antoine both embarrassed and enraged rushes away, and from then on despises his mother. In school his ruthless teacher often yells and assigns extra work to him, which just makes him hate school even more. His parents attempt to get him interested, and finally do when his mother bribes him with money. Antoine becomes obsessed with the french writer Balzac. At school he writes an in class essay and completely re copies one of Balzac's essays from memory. The teacher becomes extremely angry and demands Antoine leave the classroom right away. This was the last straw for Antoine, for just days before he faked his mothers death to get out doing school work. Antoine refuses to return home, and with the help of a friend he spends a lot of time away from his parents. To fund his escape he plans to steal and sell his stepfather's typewriter. He is caught in the act of actually returning the typewriter and is turned into the police by his stepfather. He is locked up and transfered to an observatory for troubled youth by the sea at his mothers request. Antoine is interviewed by a therapist there, and the reasons for his unhappiness are unearthed. One day while playing soccer in a nearby field Antoine escapes under the fence. He runs and runs until he finally reaches the sea. There he pauses and gazes into the camera. The film ends with his puzzled face staring straight into the camera.