The title of the film comes from the French idiom “faire les quatre cents coups”, meaning “to raise hell”.
Its supposed to be like “the terrible twos” but for teenagers.
hey there’s an idea for a prequel!
I thought it was a metaphor for how many ‘blows’ he endured before deciding to run away. 401 would be too much!
Faux-Fuyants, can you provide a more literal translation?
“I thought it was a metaphor for how many ‘blows’ he endured before deciding to run away. 401 would be too much!”
I think that’s what most presume it is.
Literal translation: To make the four hundred blows.
—PolarisDiB
There are actually 400 moments of despair or upset in the film.
Kidding.
There are actually 400 moments of despair or upset in the film.
Kidding.
There are actually 400 moments of despair or upset in the film.
Kidding.
The English title is worse than meaningless. It is positively misleading insofar as it suggests some kind of Kes type miserabilism.
I always thought it was a terrible English-language title – it doesn’t work.
i had wondered about the meaning of the title, but Ben Mankiewicz on TCM enlightened me as to the French idiom from which the name is taken. learn something new everyday.
It refers to the kid’s mother, a prostitute. JK
What User de Faux-Fuyants said.
I have wondered about the title, too. It is an idiomatic French expression, not meaning anything if literally translated. Faire les quatre cents coups is the full expression. The literal translation is: (to do) the four hundred tricks. Tricks, as in dirty tricks, is a better translation of coups rather than ‘blows’.
Basically, the expression is saying to sow one’s wild oats – which would be an idiomatic English translation. However, I think the English title of the film is referencing the many blows or kicks young Antoine endures as he grows up in the film. Strange that Truffaut was never to equal this first major film in terms of quality or truth. Perhaps the autobiographical nature of the film, and its very ‘blows’ to its young protagonist – however you translate – make the English title appropriate after all.
I like that the blows in the English title refers to all the innumerable awful things we all must endure from families, friends, schools, and society as we grow up – as Antoine finds out. Indeed. blows works better in this way of looking at the film than the more appropriate tricks. Therefore, I will stick with the 400 Blows of the English title for an appropriate reading of the film’s meaning, rather than a more literal translation of the French.
Anyway, here is the best explanation I could find on the internet (at About.com.French Language):
Notes: Many expressions can’t be translated literally between French and English, but the French expression faire les quatre cents coups is one that makes virtually no sense at all – you can’t even guess as to what it means figuratively. I think it’s partly the definite article les (“the”) that makes it so difficult, as if there are 400 specific tricks that one must do in order to claim that you’ve lived a truly wild life.
Also, the word coup has numerous meanings; in faire les quatre cents coups, it’s in the sense of un mauvais coup – “a dirty or mean trick.” The title of the French film Les Quatre Cents Coups, by François Truffaut, was poorly translated as “The 400 Blows” in English. “400 Tricks” would have been a little better, but I think the best translation would be something more figurative like “Raising Hell” or “The Wild One.”
It was explained to me long ago by my French mentor as “Raising MERRY Hell” which changes the whole mood, no? If nothing else, it suggests something more playful, more jocular. Yes, he has to endure all that squalor that is his life and must “take the blows,” if you will, but he’s a kid, and the spirit of youth will out.
Just listen to the theme music. Go Antoine!
Omar Antonio Iturriaga
Just got finished watching the movie today, really curious to why it’s titled that. Excuse my ignorance if it is something I completely missed.