Selected by Mitchell Kaplan
Two iconic films that capture the restless spirit of youth, The Little Fugitive and The 400 Blows explore childhood rebellion and freedom with striking realism. An acknowledged influence on the French New Wave, the Academy Award®-nominated The Little Fugitive introduced a naturalistic style and improvisational approach that would inspire a new generation of filmmakers. In this poignant tale, a boy, tricked into believing he has committed a crime, escapes to Coney Island, where he discovers independence while his brother searches for him. Building on this innovative spirit, François Truffaut’s The 400 Blows, inspired by his own troubled youth, follows a boy navigating neglectful parents, harsh teachers, and petty crime in a film that helped define the French New Wave.