https://www.britannica.com/art/film-noir
- Characterized by:
- cynical heroes
- stark lighting effects
- frequent use of flashbacks
- intricate plots
- underlying existentialist philosophy
- Mostly prevalent in post world war II American crime dramas
- “Cinema of the disenchanted”
- Films often represented the “disenchantment” of the times
- Pessimism and Disillusionment introduced themselves to America during the Great Depression
- Post World War II– McCarthyism and threats of atomic warfare gave a sense of distrust and uncertainty– was reflected through this style of film
- Common storylines became ones centered around a war veteran that comes home and finds a different life in store for him– one different than the one he was fighting to come back to
- “America of Film Noir”
- Modernized
- Heartless
- Coldly efficient
- Unconcerned with political corruption and organized crime
- Slight experimental aspects were developed from German cinematography during World War II
- No thematic coherence
- During the time it wasn’t really considered a genre– people were just making crime films, thrillers, etc. However, they were influenced by the aura of “postwar cynicism” which makes them their own category today
- Use of stark lighting also differentiates noir from other genres
- Stylistic elements such as light and awkward camera tilts/angles used to define the character’s madness
- Use of expressionism
- Shown through flashbacks and narration