Review of Stolen Kisses (1968) by Steven B — 17 Sep 2009

Jean-Pierre Leaud returns as Antoine Doinel in Stolen Kisses, the third in the five-part series. As a child actor, he was brilliant in "The 400 Blows" which has a darker tone than the others in the series.

If possible, you should see the short "Antoine and Colette" (check the web) so you can see how the character's progress, and lack thereof. His reaction at the end of the very end scene of Stolen Kisses, I believe is a direct reference to his behavior in "Antoine and Colette.

" Filmmaker Francois Truffaut admitted that originally his sole motivation for making this sequel was so he could work with Leaud again. I think this is as good a reason as any, since he shines once again.

I'm not saying his character is always likeable. Antoine displays his flaws as he bounces from job to job, and pursues, at one time or another, love or sex. He's a private young man, but he knows how to network and use the people he meets and knows to find his next job- which is important, since he is uneducated.

The longest segment of the movie follows Antoine in his job as an investigator with a private detective firm. They put him sort of undercover in another job, in a shoe store, where he becomes attracted to the owner's wife.

His on-again, off-again love interest of his own age is the pure and simple Christine, played by the delightful Claude Jade. They have great chemistry from the start, and convey a history together, since the characters knew each other long before the film's story began.

They are two lovers who are not always right for each other in timing and maturity. Each is waiting for a time when the other and themselves will be ready at the same time.