Review of Stolen Kisses (1968) by Russell B — 04 Jun 2008

9 years after The 400 Blows, we drop in on Antoine again... but where's the inspiration, charm and, yes, "magic" of the original? How can this have been directed by the same man? Jean-Pierre Léaud is as watchable as ever, but the film feels like an unnecessary, disheartening addition to Truffaut's debut: the infinite potential of that famous final freeze-frame now being crudely answered by Antoine, predictably enough, having become a slacker and a chancer as an adult.

And as for Christine as a love interest... A disappointingly unremarkable follow-up... and considering we're not just talking about some tacky horror franchise here, quite an upsetting one.