Antoine and Colette 1962

Antoine Jean-Pierre Léaud is a solitary 17-year-old who works at Philips manufacturing LPs to support himself. He lives in a furnished room near Place Clichy, filling his days with opera and classical music and spending time with René Patrick Auffay, his school friend from The 400 Blows.

One day, during a Berlioz Music Programme with René, he spots Colette Marie-France Pisier, a secondary school student, and falls in love for the first time.

Colette is his own age, but unlike Antoine has a warm, supportive family with whom she still lives. Antoine forms a strong friendship with Colette and, eventually, also her parents Rosy Varte who begin to treat him as if he were a part of their family.

Colette’s feelings for Antoine are at first ambiguous, and, harbouring some hope that she might grow to return them, he leaves his apartment at the Place Clichy and moves into an apartment across the road from her family’s. Although she continues to treat him kindly, it slowly becomes apparent that she is not interested in him romantically.

He sulks about this and at first refuses to see her, but he is lured back by a dinner invitation. It is clear that her family still consider him a surrogate son and are possibly hoping for something romantic to happen between the two teenagers.

All of these hopes are dashed, however, when the pretty Colette is met at the front door by an older man. Her parents and Antoine look helplessly on as she disappears off with her date. They are all left to watch television.

Doinel’s adventures follow with Stolen Kisses, Bed and Board and Love on the Run.