Love on the Run (1979)

 Francois Truffaut's "Love on the Run"

Francois Truffaut's 1979 film "Love on the Run" is the third and final installment in a series that focuses on his iconic fictional character, Antoine Doniel. Many were wondering if Truffaut would continue with his character for decades to come (had Truffaut not tragically passed away 5 years later). However, Truffaut felt he could not properly evolve the character on his own. He felt like a parent watching over their child. To Truffaut, the child could not properly grow up with his continued influence.

In "Love on the Run," Antoine is now 30 and getting a divorce from Christine. While they are both sharing in parenting responsibilities, Antoine is dating a woman named Sabine. Collette, a former girlfriend of Antoine, sees Antoine at the courthouse and decides to pick up his autobiographical novel at a bookstore owned by a love interest. After reading some less-than-factual things about her, she tells Antoine that he is still as immature as ever. Their encounter leads her to profess her love for her bookstore clerk while Antoine repairs things with Sabine.

I think the film perfect encapsulates the finality of Antoine's story. There are moments from the previous four films (The 500 Blows, Antoine and Colette, Stolen Kisses, and Bed and Board) interspliced between the characters' interactions with Antoine. This, along with the thematic reminiscing on Antoine's life as a whole make "Love on the Run" feel like a conclusory diary entry that summates his growth into a full-fledged adult.

One of the things I noticed while reading about audience and critical reactions to the film were that a lot of people lost interest in the films because Antoine was "less appealing as an adult," after finding him more sympathetic and misunderstood as a child in "The 400 Blows." To anyone that thinks this way, not only do I think you misunderstand the films and Antoine, but I feel as though you misunderstand narrative fiction all together. 

To me, not only does Antoine's characterization portray something more real and complex and a schtick character, his actions and behavior, although annoying and immature, are completely derived from his circumstances as a youth in the first film. As an adult, Antoine is intensely chasing love and affection from anyplace he can get it. This stems from not receiving love from his parents as a child. The events of "The 400 Blows" directly impacts his emotional framework as an adult in these films. Anytime I see Antoine (as an adult) make mistake after mistake, I can only see that small child he once was.

I think this is why Truffaut decided to close the book on Antoine's story. He cannot properly 'grow up,' as it were. He is stuck in a child-like state of chasing love and affection, and can't grow in his own security of self. To me, despite the 'happy' wrap up at the end of the film, "Love on the Run" is far more bittersweet than just sweet. I know full well that Antoine's romantic pursuit of Sabine will only end in failure, just as every other relationship he's had. The reason there are no more Antoine Doniel stories is because we already know the ending.