Film Noir

 

 

Film Noir

Film Noir is a term in media used when the film is in black and white, as it translates to 'black film'.

 

Some believe that Film Noir is a genre of film, where as others believe that it is just a style of film in which they began to create mysteries in, during the 1940's. It originated following the Wall Street Crash in the US, as the lack of colour represents how Americans felt in the Great Depression.

 

Features of a Film Noir

 

Mise-en-Scene

The majority of the films are set in dark looking streets to suggest there is mystery surrounding the setting and the people in it.
Props that are present in every Film Noir are guns. This is because they show whom holds power (such as a detective) and also to create a sense of foreboding as to who will die.

 

 

Lighting

The biggest feature of this genre is the lighting, as it makes the blacks and whites more distinctive in order to set a certain mood.
As well as making the film more distinctive, it also creates more shadows which are largely associated with mystery films.

Characters
Both genders play stereotypical roles in Film Noirs.

 

The key female characters are the 'Femme Fatales'. Their role in Film Noirs is to create a problem for the main character. This is usually by dragging them into a dangerous situation, or becoming an irresistible obstacle to them.

This female character can be detected by the audience from their appearance, as, in general, they wear revealing, expensive looking clothes (such as dresses and fur) to seduce the male characters, and red lipstick to represent that this character is going to cause danger.

In order to reinforce the dangerousness of the 'Femme Fatale' a feature of some of the male characters is that they will be fatally attracted to the women.
The male characters in Film Noirs all dress in a very similar star, as it creates mystery and suspense as to who are the 'goodies' (detective) 'badies' (gangsters).