不安分的年轻人们

　　MiddleclassstudentBobLetellierentersanewworldwhenhemeetsAlain,afree-thinkingrebelwho,alongwithhisgroupofyoungParisians,hasoptedforalifeofinstantgratificationinsteadofworkandcommitment.Ataparty,Bobmeetsayoungwoman,Mic,whoappearstobejustascarefreeandcynicalasAlain.Mic&#39sonlydreamistoownaluxurycar,andwithBob&#39shelp,shemanagestofindthemoneytobutit.Mic&#39sfriendClodiscoverssheispregnantand,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.　　　　WhilstLesTricheursisnotasflawlessasCarné&#39searliermasterpieces,itisnonethelessasignificantwork,havingthepowertobothshockandmoveitsaudience,whilsthavinggreatentertainmentvalue.ItevokesthemoodofitstimeinawaythatfewFrenchfilmsofthisperioddid,depictingyoungpeopleaspleasure-seekingrebels,rejectingtheausterityanddisciplineofthepreviousgenerationwhilstpursuingalifewithoutcares,responsibilitiesorlove.SimilaritieswithJamesDean&#39sfilmsofthe1950s(mostnotablyRebelwithoutaCause)areapparent,althoughCarné&#39streatmentofyoungpeopleisfarmoreabstract-inhisfilmtheymerelysymboliseaworldthathaslostitsway,moreorlessvictimsofpost-warprosperity.AlthoughtheyoungpeopleinLesTricheurslacktheauthenticitytobetotallycredible,thefilmdoesmakeanimportant,andindeedquitedisturbingpoint,aboutwherethepermissivesocietymaybeheading.　　　　Muchofthepleasureofthefilmisintheperformancesfromitsfourleadactors,JacquesCharrier,PascalePetit,LaurentTerzieffandAndréaParisy,althoughonlyTerzieffisreallyconvincinginhisrole.MarcelCarnéoriginallyconsideredAlainDelonandJean-PaulBelmondoforthepartsofBobandAlainrespectively,beforeoptingforCharrierandTerzieff.Asaconsolation,CarnéofferedBelmondoasmallerpartinthefilm-alastoosmallfortheactortobenoticedbythepublic.Belmondo&#39sbreakthroughhadtowaituntilthefollowingyearwhenhestarredinJean-LucGodard&#39srevolutionaryAboutdesouffle,afilmwhichoffersaverydifferentperspectiveoftheyouthgeneration.