"One's mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions."- Oliver Wendell Holmes

Francois Truffaut is one of the well known directors of the French New Wave. The French New Wave was a term given to young French directors of the 1950's and 60's who rejected traditional cinema. Truffaut's film,Shoot The Pianist (1960) rejects traditional film making by mixing genres such as gangster, film noir, thriller, comedy and romance. Truffaut commented on his technique saying "I wanted to break with linear narrative.. and make a film where all the scenes would please me. I shot without any other criteria." Because of the low budget of these films of the time, many techniques where forced, however became influential and stereotyped. Techniques such as, improvisation, natural locations, lighting, sound, jump cuts etc. Truffaut's random approach to filming Shoot The Pianst, gives an edgy feel top the film. The mix of genre in Shoot The Pianist works well showing an example of the style of The French New Wave.