NPhillips-Edwards
12-04-2009, 07:16 PM
Antoine’s struggles are those of someone wholly at odds with the world around them. He is brought up in an unequivocally hostile environment, wherein he is seen as little more than a wayward brat with modest, if any, potential. His mother regards him with contempt, stating that he gets on her nerves, while his stepfather, though somewhat supportive at first, is soon unable to stand him. His teachers are no different. Rather than fanning the spark of creativity Antoine shows when he writes a poem on the classroom wall, his literature teacher is instead clearly more concerned with disciplining him and stamping that spark out. None of them would appear interested in encouraging growth of any kind. In fact the film seems to be making a comment on adult guidance, as there are few if any positive examples of adulthood in the film. Antoine’s parents hardly give him more than a second thought unless he acts out in some way, and then only to punish him. Additionally, his father lies to the corrective institution about his behavior. His teachers are heavy handed and also only seem interested in chastisement. His friend’s parents are absent most of the time and show little concern for their well being; when his friend’s father catches them smoking cigars, he is really only concerned by the smoke and ashes, and says he’ll take the cost of the cigars out of the son’s allowance. The corrective facility’s sole interest is in punishing and psychoanalyzing him, and they ultimately disregard much of what he says. The film might, here, make the point that society, when it does take an interest in the development of its youth, is so concerned with punishment and obedience, that it effectively disregards positive growth in favor of suppression of unfavorable tendencies.