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