Jack de Nijs for Anefo
François Truffaut
FilmmakerKnown for:
The 400 Blows (1959); Hitchcock/Truffaut (1967)
Education:
Self-taught; mentored by André Bazin at Cahiers du Cinéma
François Truffaut began as one of the most severe film critics of his generation before directing The 400 Blows (1959), which launched the French New Wave and introduced his autobiographical alter ego Antoine Doinel. He returned to Doinel across four further films over two decades, producing an unprecedented cinematic autobiography. He also authored what remains one of the most important books of film criticism, Hitchcock/Truffaut (1967).
François Truffaut's Gear List(1)
Eclair
Connection Source
GoogleWebsite
Connection note
DP Henri Decae used the Cameflex on The 400 Blows (1959), enabling the lightweight location shooting that defined the French New Wave
Product description
The Eclair Cameflex (also called the CM3) is a portable, shoulder-held 35mm motion picture camera designed by Jacques Mathot and André Coutant and introduced in 1947. It features a three-lens turret with reflex mirror shutter, variable speeds from 8 to 48 fps, and interchangeable magazines that can be swapped with the motor still running. Its lightweight, handheld design made it a key tool of the French New Wave, and it received an Academy Award in 1949.
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Last updated March 20, 2026