The eighth look at one of my favorite movie moms. (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are here)

Gilberte Doinel in Francois Truffaut’s The 400 Blows

She is definitely one of cinemas worst moms (in a conventional sense) but the scene where Antione Doinel tells his teacher that his mother is dead is without a doubt one of the most memorable in cinema history. The 400 Blows wouldn’t be the same without it’s antagonist and if you’re a Truffaut and French New Wave lover, you probably can’t help but think that if Truffaut’s mother (who he based Gilbrete Doinel on) wasn’t so awful, that he might not have needed to escape into the cinema.. And that would have been a terrible thing.

And on the note of kids watching movies, to learn about Facet’s Chicago International Children’s Film Festival Young Critics Camp! And definitely click click click to see some great scenes from the film.