不安分的年轻人们

讲述了MiddleclassstudentBobLetellierentersanewworldwhenhemeetsAlain,afree-thinkingrebelwho,alongwithhisgroupofyoungParisians,hasoptedforalifeofinstantgratificationinsteadofworkandcommitment.Ataparty,Bobmeetsayoungwoman,Mic,whoappearstobejustascarefreeandcynicalasAlain.Micsonlydreamistoownaluxurycar,andwithBobshelp,shemanagestofindthemoneytobutit.MicsfriendClodiscoverssheispregnantand,notknowingwhothefatheris,sheasksBobtomarryher.Whentheynextmeetataparty,BobandMicdenythattheyhaveanyfeelingsforoneanother-adeclarationthatsoonleadstotragedy...MarcelCarnéiswidelyregardedasoneofthestandardbearersofFrenchqualitycinemaofthe1930sand1940s,responsibleforsuchmasterpiecesasQuaidesbrumes(1938)andLesEnfantsduParadis(1945).Howironicthenthat,in1958,towardstheendofhisfilm-makingcareer,heshouldmakeafilmwhichdaredtoportraytheattitudesandbehaviourofthe1950syouth,inawaythateffectivelycapturesthemoodandsentimentofthetime.LesTricheurswasahugelycontroversialfilm,notleastbecauseofitsblatantdepictionofadolescentfree-love,andwasevenbannedinsomeregionsofFrance.Italsoreceivedsomeintenselyunfavourablereviews,mostnotablyfromtheyounghotheadsontheCahiersducinémasuchasFrançoisTruffautwhocitedthisfilmasaprimeexampleofthedeclineofFrenchcinemaintomediocrity.Inspiteofallthisnegativepress,thefilmprovedtobeanastonishingcommercialsuccess,attractingfivemillioncinema-goers,andwasawardedtheGrandPrixduCinémafrançaisin1958.WhilstLesTricheursisnotasflawlessasCarnésearliermasterpieces,itisnonethelessasignificantwork,havingthepowertobothshockandmoveitsaudience,whilsthavinggreatentertainmentvalue.ItevokesthemoodofitstimeinawaythatfewFrenchfilmsofthisperioddid,depictingyoungpeopleaspleasure-seekingrebels,rejectingtheausterityanddisciplineofthepreviousgenerationwhilstpursuingalifewithoutcares,responsibilitiesorlove.SimilaritieswithJamesDeansfilmsofthe1950s(mostnotablyRebelwithoutaCause)areapparent,althoughCarnéstreatmentofyoungpeopleisfarmoreabstract-inhisfilmtheymerelysymboliseaworldthathaslostitsway,moreorlessvictimsofpost-warprosperity.AlthoughtheyoungpeopleinLesTricheurslacktheauthenticitytobetotallycredible,thefilmdoesmakeanimportant,andindeedquitedisturbingpoint,aboutwherethepermissivesocietymaybeheading.Muchofthepleasureofthefilmisintheperformancesfromitsfourleadactors,JacquesCharrier,PascalePetit,LaurentTerzieffandAndréaParisy,althoughonlyTerzieffisreallyconvincinginhisrole.MarcelCarnéoriginallyconsideredAlainDelonandJean-PaulBelmondoforthepartsofBobandAlainrespectively,beforeoptingforCharrierandTerzieff.Asaconsolation,CarnéofferedBelmondoasmallerpartinthefilm-alastoosmallfortheactortobenoticedbythepublic.BelmondosbreakthroughhadtowaituntilthefollowingyearwhenhestarredinJean-LucGodardsrevolutionaryAboutdesouffle,afilmwhichoffersaverydifferentperspectiveoftheyouthgeneration.