Parents and Freedom: Lady Bird and The 400 Blows

Hey guys!

Graduating from high school is one of the most significant events in a person's life. It an event that I, myself, am currently going through. You spend the first 18 or so years with loads of people, some of them stay, some of them leave. What is common is that all of them play a role in shaping a person, That person is, you. And, for most of us, the most significant role in this process of "person-making" is played by our parents. We get really attached to them. We have our differences and our disagreements with them, but at the end of the day, we still go back to them when we are faced with a challenge or a tough situation. Around this time, most of you who are my age will be looking forward to beginning our terms in college and finally find freedom. But what is freedom? Is it really that desirable? 

I watched 2 films recently that made me ask myself this question; Greta Gerwig's directorial debut, Lady Bird, and Francois Truffaut's French New Wave classic, Les Quatre Cents Coups (Eng: The 400 Blows). 

FREEDOM

I spent most of my adolescent age with my mother. My dad lived in a different city because of his job. However, we still remained close and he means the world to me. And I love my mother, too, I find that she is the most caring, hardworking person, I have known in my entire life. And both my parents have always been incredibly supportive of me in all my ventures. I love them with all my heart.

However, there have been times in my life, when I absolutely hated living in the same house with them. I found them incredibly constricting as they didn't let me stay up late, or do my phone, or let me go out in the evenings, the constant nagging and telling me to study, pointing out how dirty my room is, you know the regular teenager-parent conflict. I know now, that most of the things they told me and nagged me about were for my own good, but what did I know then? I was a hormone-fueled teen and I felt I was at the top of the world all the time. 

The point is: as twelfth grade began, last April, I began looking forward to March 2020. As I would graduate high school, I would be out of the clutches of my parents and be free. Free to sleep at whatever time I want to sleep, free to go out wherever I want to, free to do whatever I want to.

For me, that was my freedom. 

LADY BIRD (2017)

Lady Bird is the story of Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson. She has a rocky relationship with her mother. Like me, she finds her mother incredibly constricting and rebels in whatever way she can.

Her mother gave her the name "Christine", as an act of rebellion she chooses to call herself "Lady Bird". Most of her house is in an organized manner, her room is pink and messy. Her mother warns her not to have sex before college, she goes out and does it the very next day. Most importantly, Lady Bird wants to go to New York to study Liberal Arts, while her mother wants to send her to community college. This desire to go out of New York forms the central conflict of the film.

The family comes from a poor socio-economic background. They barely scrape-by. That is why, most of the restrictions her mom places on Lady Bird, seem justified. Lady Bird's acts of rebellion seem justified as it is the search for her own identity, making out who her real friends are, who is and who isn't good for her.  

However, the villain here is neither the mother nor Lady Bird. Neither character is simply a one-dimensional archetype protagonist.  This is the beautiful writing of Greta Gerwig. The mother doesn't come off as an oppressive villain, but neither is she the altruistic hero. Lady Bird isn't a rebel without a cause, but neither is she the ideal daughter.   

With the help of her father, Lady Bird fills out college applications to New York colleges, applying for financial aid, knowing that her mother fervently opposed this plan. Finally, just as her life was getting back on track, and her relationship with her mother was becoming normalized, her mother finds about this. They have a hard falling out. They stop talking to each other; her mother doesn't even see her off at the airport.
Lady Bird, in New York, has finally found her independence. When she does, she uses it to get drunk and land up in a hospital. She finally understands her mother's concerns and realizes she misses her.

Needless to say, it is an ending I found very emotional because I related to it. I, too, yearn for my "freedom". I tell myself I will never misuse it to get drunk. But then, I'm fairly certain, Lady Bird said that to herself too. This movie made me look at my parents for a perspective I had never seen them before. I think I understand my parents' concerns about my behavior. However, I feel it might be too late to actually apologize for it.

THE 400 BLOWS (1959)
The 400 Blows was a film recommended to me by a very close friend of mine. I was planning to watch Andrei Tarkovsky's Stalker that night when this friend called me up and told me I HAD to watch this film. He said that it would be very relatable. I told him it better be good because I was in a Tarkovsky mood. He promised me I would not regret it. Boy was he right.

The 400 Blows is a French New Wave film, written and directed by Francois Truffaut. It is a semi-autobiographical film, based partly off the writer-director's own life.

It is about a little boy namedAntoine. He doesn't like to study. He tries to bunk school, makes a nuisance in the class, has fun, in general. His parents and teachers are pretty frustrated by this behavior. After days of getting scolded and chastised, he decides to leave home and build his own life. Caught in the crime of trying to steal a typewriter, he is sent to a reform center for juveniles. Only his mother comes to visit him. Towards the end, he runs away from the place. We first see him running through a forest and finally out to the open beach. As approaches the sea, he slows down. He looks confused and the final shot is of him, looking scared and confused and into the camera.
The film itself is beautifully written and the performances by the entire cast are stellar. A special nod to Jean-Pierre Leaud, who plays the role of Antoine. This was his debut role.

The film is about a little kid trying to find freedom. It is very apparent as he tries to be independent. He steals to stay away from hunger but is forced to be dependent on his friend for shelter. Maybe this film isn't about finding freedom. maybe it's about being with friends. After all, I spend a lot of time trying to get away from my parents and be with my friends. However, Antoine's friend coerces him to steal the typewriter and when he is caught, he bails on Antoine. The only person who comes to help him is his father.  This reinforces the theme that in times of trouble, no matter what your parents will always side with you.

However, little Antoine still doesn't understand and is angry about the fact that his father sent him to the reform center. He still tries to run away. In the end, he finally does. The open-air of the beach is symbolic of freedom. However, as he goes further, he realizes, he doesn't know what to do with it, because deep down, he is just a scared little boy.

CONCLUSION
Similar problems face me. Is it too late for me to apologize? Will I behave responsibly with the freedom I get? Will I know what to do with freedom? Heck, do I even want that freedom anymore?  The answer is I'm not certain. I don't know.
One thing, however, is certain: I will be getting my freedom. And my questions will be answered with time. I'm excited to see what the future holds for me.

Thank you so much for reading this post, it came straight from my heart. If you liked it, drop a comment below.
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