Review of Stolen Kisses (1968) by Knox M — 15 Mar 2017

Antoine is living an exact parallel life to his 17 year old self with another set of parents looking over him and a girl like a sister who he loves. His character is consistent with the boy we left off with, brash and impatient, anxious to seem important, hurting inside much of the time.

The scene at the magic show is captured patiently by Truffaut, contrasting with Antoine's impatience. Christine sees Antoine is upset and doesn't want him to feel this way, so she holds his hand. He's taken off guard, believing she's having feelings for him, and responds with a romanticized apology so he can get on to his investigative business of the Magician. He rubs her hand, then lets go so he can take notes. She's impressed with his business-like attitude. He jumps the gun when he shoots up out of his seat at the end of the show, rushes around and makes it obvious that he's following the Magician - he's clearly inexperienced and anxious to seem important in front of Christine.

But in his desperation to grow up, Antoine forces his feelings away from Christine and onto his boss's wife, an older woman.

The scene of Antoine in the mirror is cruel.

You absolutely can't predict where this movie is going. One second, you're afraid of what happens to Antoine after his admission of guilt, the next a co-worker dies. It's as random as life is. Paranoid too; people are being watched, it's unclear who's watching who.

It's interesting to see Christine has now fallen hard for Antoine, going out of her way to get him to come over. As a result, Antoine has become more of a man in this relationship than the boyishness he used to have.

I disagree with focusing on Christine's obsessive stalker instead of their reactions to his revelation, but I appreciate his symbolic purpose in that there will always be a temptation of infidelity between Christine and Antoine.