Antoine Doinel
Encyclopedia
Antoine Doinel is a fictional character
created by French
film director
François Truffaut
. Doinel is to a great extent an alter ego
for Truffaut, sharing many of the same childhood experiences, looking somewhat alike and even being mistaken for one another on the street.
Although Truffaut did not initially plan for Doinel to be a recurring character, he eventually returned to the character in one short-subject and three full-length films after introducing him in his debut feature, The 400 Blows
. In all, Truffaut followed the fictional life of Antoine Doinel for over 20 years—a unique cinematic feat equaled only by the non-fictional Up Series.
. Doinel's lover and later wife, Christine Darbon, was acted by Claude Jade
in three films. His unrequited love interest Colette Tazzi (Marie-France Pisier
) appears in the second, third (in a brief cameo
) and fifth films. Patrick Auffay appears as Antoine's friend René in the first two films. François Darbon appears as Colette's father in the second and as a military adjudant in the third film. Numerous other characters re-appear through flashbacks utilizing footage from earlier films.
. The 1959 film introduces us to the 12-year-old Doinel, who runs away, eventually turning to street life and petty crime in response to neglect at home. Towards the end of the film, he is sent to a reform school, from which he escapes.
, which was part of the 1962 omnibus film L'amour à vingt ans. Doinel becomes obsessed by Colette but she only wants to be friends.
(1968), a more mature Doinel attempts to return to civilian life after a dishonourable discharge from the military. His romantic forays are rocky with Christine (Claude Jade
), and then his boss's wife (Delphine Seyrig
as Fabienne Tabard).
, but Doinel suddenly becomes obsessed with a young Japan
ese woman (Hiroko Berghauer).
, where his romantic attentions pass from his ex-wife Christine to disc-seller Sabine Barnerias (Dorothée
).
In each film, flashbacks to Doinel's earlier life consist of footage from the previous films.
, first appears in the life of Antoine in Stolen Kisses
. Subsequently she appeared in two more films, Bed & Board (now Christine Doinel) and Love on the Run
, where, after divorcing Doinel, she again becomes Christine Darbon. Truffaut uses the occasion to examine three states, three ages, of the woman: loved from a distance (Stolen Kisses), married and misled (Bed & Board), divorced but still on good terms (Love on the Run). Christine is characterized by her good behaviour, the promptness of her glance, a sense of sacrifice which is by no means "tragic". In the film Love on the Run, Antoine and Christine were the first couple in the country to divorce under a new law allowing dissolution of a marriage by mutual consent.
In a case of life imitating art, Christine can also be seen as part of Truffaut's autobiography. While Antoine is seeking to seduce Christine in Stolen Kisses, in real life Truffaut fell in love with the actress who portrayed Christine, Claude Jade, becoming engaged to her. The two however did not wed. The character of Christine Darbon left an important and indelible mark on Truffaut's work: she is a character who never really reveals her emotions, whose sad smile is her only weapon to fight Antoine's cruelty and whose soft glance barely manages to hide an inner wound.
. http://www.criterion.com/asp/boxed_set.asp?id=185
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
created by French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
François Truffaut
François Truffaut
François Roland Truffaut was an influential film critic and filmmaker and one of the founders of the French New Wave. In a film career lasting over a quarter of a century, he remains an icon of the French film industry. He was also a screenwriter, producer, and actor working on over twenty-five...
. Doinel is to a great extent an alter ego
Alter ego
An alter ego is a second self, which is believe to be distinct from a person's normal or original personality. The term was coined in the early nineteenth century when dissociative identity disorder was first described by psychologists...
for Truffaut, sharing many of the same childhood experiences, looking somewhat alike and even being mistaken for one another on the street.
Although Truffaut did not initially plan for Doinel to be a recurring character, he eventually returned to the character in one short-subject and three full-length films after introducing him in his debut feature, The 400 Blows
The 400 Blows
The 400 Blows is a 1959 French film directed by François Truffaut. One of the defining films of the French New Wave, it displays many of the characteristic traits of the movement. The story revolves around Antoine Doinel, an ordinary adolescent in Paris, who is thought by his parents and teachers...
. In all, Truffaut followed the fictional life of Antoine Doinel for over 20 years—a unique cinematic feat equaled only by the non-fictional Up Series.
Recurring characters
Doinel was played in all five movies by Jean-Pierre LéaudJean-Pierre Léaud
-Early years:Born in Paris, Léaud made his major debut as an actor at the age of 14 as Antoine Doinel, a semi-autobiographical character based on the life events of French film director François Truffaut, in The 400 Blows....
. Doinel's lover and later wife, Christine Darbon, was acted by Claude Jade
Claude Jade
Claude Marcelle Jorré, better known as Claude Jade , was a French actress, known for starring as Christine in François Truffaut's three films Stolen Kisses , Bed and Board and Love on the Run . Jade acted in theatre, film and television...
in three films. His unrequited love interest Colette Tazzi (Marie-France Pisier
Marie-France Pisier
Marie-France Pisier was a French actress. She appeared in numerous films of the French New Wave and twice earned the national César Award for Best Supporting Actress.-Life and career:...
) appears in the second, third (in a brief cameo
Cameo appearance
A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
) and fifth films. Patrick Auffay appears as Antoine's friend René in the first two films. François Darbon appears as Colette's father in the second and as a military adjudant in the third film. Numerous other characters re-appear through flashbacks utilizing footage from earlier films.
The Adventures of Antoine Doinel
The set of five films has been named "The Adventures of Antoine Doinel." The set is made up of the following:The 400 Blows
Truffaut's debut was the film The 400 BlowsThe 400 Blows
The 400 Blows is a 1959 French film directed by François Truffaut. One of the defining films of the French New Wave, it displays many of the characteristic traits of the movement. The story revolves around Antoine Doinel, an ordinary adolescent in Paris, who is thought by his parents and teachers...
. The 1959 film introduces us to the 12-year-old Doinel, who runs away, eventually turning to street life and petty crime in response to neglect at home. Towards the end of the film, he is sent to a reform school, from which he escapes.
Antoine and Colette
The next appearance of Doinel was in the film short Antoine and ColetteAntoine and Colette
Antoine and Colette is the second film — a short — in François Truffaut's series about Antoine Doinel, the character he follows from boyhood to adulthood through five films...
, which was part of the 1962 omnibus film L'amour à vingt ans. Doinel becomes obsessed by Colette but she only wants to be friends.
Stolen Kisses
In the third installment, Stolen KissesStolen Kisses
Stolen Kisses is a 1968 French film directed by François Truffaut. It continues the story of the character Antoine Doinel, whom Truffaut had previously depicted in The 400 Blows and the short film Antoine and Colette...
(1968), a more mature Doinel attempts to return to civilian life after a dishonourable discharge from the military. His romantic forays are rocky with Christine (Claude Jade
Claude Jade
Claude Marcelle Jorré, better known as Claude Jade , was a French actress, known for starring as Christine in François Truffaut's three films Stolen Kisses , Bed and Board and Love on the Run . Jade acted in theatre, film and television...
), and then his boss's wife (Delphine Seyrig
Delphine Seyrig
Delphine Claire Beltiane Seyrig was a stage and film actress and a film director.-Early life:...
as Fabienne Tabard).
Bed and Board
In 1970, Doinel and Christine have married in Bed and BoardBed and Board
Bed and board may refer to:* Bed and Board, 1970 French film Domicile Conjugal* Divorce from bed and board, a marital arrangement where spouses live apart but do not legally dissolve the marriage...
, but Doinel suddenly becomes obsessed with a young Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese woman (Hiroko Berghauer).
Love on the Run
Doinel's adventures come to a close in 1979's Love on the RunLove on the Run (1979 film)
Love on the Run is a 1979 French film directed by François Truffaut. It is Truffaut's fifth and final film about the character Antoine Doinel. A lot of the film is made of a "clip show" of the previous films in the series...
, where his romantic attentions pass from his ex-wife Christine to disc-seller Sabine Barnerias (Dorothée
Dorothée
Dorothée , the stage name of Frédérique Hoschedé, is a French singer and TV presenter.- Biography :1. Her childhood :...
).
In each film, flashbacks to Doinel's earlier life consist of footage from the previous films.
Christine Darbon
Christine Darbon, portrayed by actress Claude JadeClaude Jade
Claude Marcelle Jorré, better known as Claude Jade , was a French actress, known for starring as Christine in François Truffaut's three films Stolen Kisses , Bed and Board and Love on the Run . Jade acted in theatre, film and television...
, first appears in the life of Antoine in Stolen Kisses
Stolen Kisses
Stolen Kisses is a 1968 French film directed by François Truffaut. It continues the story of the character Antoine Doinel, whom Truffaut had previously depicted in The 400 Blows and the short film Antoine and Colette...
. Subsequently she appeared in two more films, Bed & Board (now Christine Doinel) and Love on the Run
Love on the Run (1979 film)
Love on the Run is a 1979 French film directed by François Truffaut. It is Truffaut's fifth and final film about the character Antoine Doinel. A lot of the film is made of a "clip show" of the previous films in the series...
, where, after divorcing Doinel, she again becomes Christine Darbon. Truffaut uses the occasion to examine three states, three ages, of the woman: loved from a distance (Stolen Kisses), married and misled (Bed & Board), divorced but still on good terms (Love on the Run). Christine is characterized by her good behaviour, the promptness of her glance, a sense of sacrifice which is by no means "tragic". In the film Love on the Run, Antoine and Christine were the first couple in the country to divorce under a new law allowing dissolution of a marriage by mutual consent.
In a case of life imitating art, Christine can also be seen as part of Truffaut's autobiography. While Antoine is seeking to seduce Christine in Stolen Kisses, in real life Truffaut fell in love with the actress who portrayed Christine, Claude Jade, becoming engaged to her. The two however did not wed. The character of Christine Darbon left an important and indelible mark on Truffaut's work: she is a character who never really reveals her emotions, whose sad smile is her only weapon to fight Antoine's cruelty and whose soft glance barely manages to hide an inner wound.
Criterion Collection
The entire "Adventures of Antoine Doinel" has been made available as part of The Criterion CollectionThe Criterion Collection
The Criterion Collection is a video-distribution company selling "important classic and contemporary films" to film aficionados. The Criterion series is noted for helping to standardize the letterbox format for home video, bonus features, and special editions...
. http://www.criterion.com/asp/boxed_set.asp?id=185