The 400 Blows (Francoi Truffaut's, 1959) - No Direction Home

[P Baird]

I believe that all of Antoine's problems stem from the fact that he has no real home. he's forced to sleep in a sleeping bag in the hall and his parents don't seem to be concerned with his well being in any way. Antoine cannot hope to turn his life into a productive one without a place to base his emotions. Also if he does not receive support or at least some kind of direction there is no chance of him finding the path to a worthwhile life.

[NPhillips-Edwards]

Additionally he doesn't seem to have anything to escape into. He shows a cursory interest in letters, however his lack of direction causes him to plagiarize his paper.

I thought the printing press was an interesting place as well. In many ways this signals rock bottom for him, as his friend René says the floor caved in because of the presses, but that it can't cave in further. Essentially this is the bottom for him.