Film noir

Film noir is a film style and mood primarily associated with crime films, that portrays its principal characters in a nihilistic and existential world. Film noir is primarily derived from the hard-boiled style of crime fiction of the Depression era, (many films noir were adaptations of such novels), and may first be clearly seen in films released in the early 1940s. 'Noirs' were historically made in black and white, and had a dark, high-contrast style with roots in German Expressionist cinematography.

Characteristics

Visual style

Noir films, traditionally black and white, tended to include dramatic shadows and stark contrast—using low-key lighting and monochrome film, typically resulting in a 10:1 ratio of dark to light, rather than the more typical 3:1 ratio. A number of noir films were shot on location in cities, and night-for-night shooting was common. Also common to be seen in any noir film are shadows of venetian blinds. (see photo above) These are dramatically cast upon an actor's face as he looks out a window. This is one of the many iconic visuals in noir.

Related Topics:
Contrast - Low-key lighting - Monochrome film - Night-for-night

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Noir is also known for its use of dutch angles, low-angle shots, and wide angle lenses. Other devices of disorientation common in film noir include shots of people in mirrors or multiple mirrors, shots through a glass (such as during the strangulation scene in Strangers on a Train), and multiple exposures (Schultheiss).

Related Topics:
Dutch angle - Low-angle shot - Wide angle lens - Disorientation - Strangers on a Train - Multiple exposures

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Setting

Film noir tends to revolve around flawed and desperate characters in an unforgiving world. Crime, usually murder, is an element of all films noir, often sparked by jealousy, corruption, or greed. Most films noir contain certain archetypal characters (such as hardboiled detectives, femmes fatales, corrupt policemen, jealous husbands, insurance agents, or down-and-out writers), familiar locations (downtown Los Angeles, New York, or San Francisco), and archetypal storylines (heist films, detective stories, court films, and films about rigged boxing games).

Related Topics:
Murder - Jealousy - Corruption - Greed - Femmes fatales - Heist film - Detective stories - Court film

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Outlook

Film noir is at its core pessimistic. The stories it tells are of people trapped in a situation they did not want, often a situation they did not create, striving against random uncaring fate, and usually doomed. Almost all film noir plots involve the hard-boiled, disillusioned male and the dangerous femme fatale.

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