The 400 Blows (1959)

Claire Maurier: Gilberte Doinel - la mère d'Antoine

Photos 

Quotes 

• Examining Magistrate : I think we'd best put the boy in an observation center.

  Gilberte Doinel : Oh, could it be near the seashore, Your Honor?

  Examining Magistrate : It's not a vacation resort, ma'am.

• Gilberte Doinel : My boss drove me home.

  Julien Doinel : Your boss.

  Gilberte Doinel : I couldn't very well refuse, could I?

  Julien Doinel : I hope you get overtime for that.

  Gilberte Doinel : I will, at the end of the month.

  Julien Doinel : Those services are usually paid in cash.

  Gilberte Doinel : Oh, knock it off!

  Julien Doinel : No wonder madame needs to rest on Sunday. By the way, where's my Michelin guide?

  Gilberte Doinel : How should I know? Ask the boy.

  Julien Doinel : He said he didn't touch it.

  Gilberte Doinel : He lies through his teeth.

  Julien Doinel : Like someone else I know.

  Gilberte Doinel : If you raised him better...

  Julien Doinel : I gave him my name, damn it! I put food on the table!

  Gilberte Doinel : I've had enough of your criticism! Fine! We'll send him to the Jesuits or the army orphans. At least I'd have some peace and quiet!

• Gilberte Doinel : I'm not in the mood.

  Julien Doinel : Too bad, I am.

• Gilberte Doinel : He's a liar!

  Julien Doinel : Like you!

  Gilberte Doinel : If you raised him right...

  Julien Doinel : Shit! I gave him a name! I feed him!

  Gilberte Doinel : I'm sick of your complaints! Fed up! If you can't stand him, say so. We'll put him in an orphanage so I can have some peace!

• Gilberte Doinel : The best thing is to eat out until the end of the month.

  Julien Doinel : For that, I need a clean shirt.

• Gilberte Doinel : Antoine! He saw me!

  The Lover : Which one's he?

  Gilberte Doinel : With dark hair. But he should be in school!

  Rene : You'll get it!

  Antoine Doinel : She won't dare tell Dad.

• Julien Doinel : You don't seem surprised.

  Gilberte Doinel : Should I be? Nothing that boy does surprises me.

• Julien Doinel : Look at your little flour boy here.

  Gilberte Doinel : That's not funny!

  Julien Doinel : I thought it was.

• Julien Doinel : Your cousin called. His wife's expecting again.

  Gilberte Doinel : Four kids in three years? Like rabbits. It's disgusting.

• Gilberte Doinel : Summer camp ain't for poodles.

• Julien Doinel : I'll make contacts at the races. You'll see. I'll be VP one day.

  Gilberte Doinel : You'll never be VP. They like you puttering along where you are.

• Gilberte Doinel : You and I can share some little secrets.

• Gilberte Doinel : Once when I was your age, we were on vacation, and I ran away with a young farm boy. Puppy love. They caught us right away. Mother made me promise never to see him again. She never told my father. I cried and cried, but I obeyed her, because you should always obey your mother.

• Antoine Doinel : I want to quit school and earn a living.

  Gilberte Doinel : That's nonsense! Don't you understand? If you knew how sorry I am I stopped after high school! And your father never even finished! It's hurting his career now.

• Gilberte Doinel : I know they teach you a lot of useless stuff in school. Algebra. Science. Nobody uses that stuff in real life. But what about French? French. One always has letters to write.

• Gilberte Doinel : I was your age once too, you know. You kids always forget that. I was stubborn too and didn't want to confide in my parents. I preferred writing in my diary. No one's ever read it. I'll show it to you one day.

• Gilberte Doinel : So, are you taking us to the movies?

  Julien Doinel : What's showing?

  Gilberte Doinel : "Paris Belongs to Us."

• Antoine Doinel : [after seeing the early French New Wave film "Paris Belongs to Us"]  I really liked the movie.

  Julien Doinel : It wasn't funny.

  Gilberte Doinel : But it had depth.

  Julien Doinel : What?

  Gilberte Doinel : It had depth. The movie.

• Gilberte Doinel : We could try taking him back if we had to, but he'd have to change his ways entirely. If only you could scare some sense into him, Your Honor.

• Gilberte Doinel : He hates sports. He prefers to hole up in a theater for hours, ruining his eyes.

• Gilberte Doinel : I'm used to it. I've been criticized by imbeciles all my life.

• [last lines] 

  Gilberte Doinel : Don't go crying to your father. He said to let you know he's washed his hands of you completely. All you're good for now is reform school or a labor center. You wanted to earn a living?

  [condescending smile] 

  Gilberte Doinel : Now we'll see how you like it.