François Truffaut (1932-1984) was a renowned French film director, screenwriter, and film critic, an emblematic figure of the French New Wave. His career, which began as a critic for "Cahiers du Cinéma," culminated with his directorial debut in 1959 with *Les Quatre Cents Coups* (*The 400 Blows*). This semi-autobiographical film introduced the character of Antoine Doinel, whom Truffaut would follow through a cycle of five works, including *Baisers Volés* (*Stolen Kisses*).

His masterpieces also include *Jules et Jim* (1962), a complex story of love and friendship, and *La Nuit Américaine* (*Day for Night*, 1973), winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, a touching tribute to cinema itself. His style is characterized by profound lyricism and humanism, exploring themes such as childhood, love, obsession, and the fragility of human relationships. Truffaut remains one of the undisputed masters of world cinema.