20 Coming-Of-Age Movies That Are Totally Flawless
5. The 400 Blows (1959)
Directed by iconic French New Wave pioneer François Truffant, based on his own childhood, The 400 Blows follows a young boy (Jean-Pierre Léaud) who struggles with relationships both at home and at school.
Deeply moving and heavily autobiographical, the drama handles its themes of youth and criminality in France with sympathy and timeless, haunting imagery.
One of the cinema's most influential movies, The 400 Blows is an early character study that avoids stereotypes, and instead strives for stark authenticity with its twists and heartbreak.
Looking back, it could well be that the coming-of-age began here, and has rarely been equalled or surpassed since its release.