Every day, AlloCiné recommends a film to (re)watch on TV. Tonight: Antoine Doinel plays the awkward romantic in authentic Paris.
When we think of François Truffaut’s filmography, The 400 Blows often takes first place. But Stolen Kisses is never far away.
Released in theaters in 1968, this romantic comedy is the third part of the adventures of Antoine Doinel (played by Jean-Pierre Léaud), after the timeless The 400 Blows and the short film Antoine et Colette.
We find our young protagonist at the age of twenty-four, just leaving the army. While he takes on odd jobs, such as night watchman, private detective, or employee in a shoe store, Antoine faces a whole host of adventures. And unfortunately, it is not only in his professional life that he is lost, in love just as much.
While he begins to have feelings for Christine (played by Claude Jade), the latter rejects him. But our favorite awkward romantic hasn’t said his last word and steals a kiss (hence the origin of the title Stolen kisses).
A tender, light and fun classic
Stolen kisseswhich is the tenth feature film of François Truffautwonderfully illustrates the misadventures of love, youth, and life. For many fans of the flagship figure of the New Wave, it is the film which most combines tenderness with humor, but also lightness with melancholy.
Because while embodying a sort of Gaston Lagaffe (the two characters were born at the same time), Antoine Doinel moves and surprises. It is like this feature film: that is to say anachronistic, sympathetic and romantic.
Among the many comments on AlloCiné, we can read: “A pure masterpiece as so many should be”, “Simple but touching”, “Certainly one of the best Truffauts if we had to make a rankingor even “Funny and tender, a wonderful film”.
For all these aspects, Stolen kisses was nominated for an Oscar in the Best International Film category in 1969, and received the Louis Delluc Prize, which has been awarded to the best French production each year since 1936.
Thus, by filming the daily banality of a young man, François Truffaut signs one of his most beautiful works.
Tonight on Arte at 8:55 p.m.
