FILM NOIR

Film noir; Hollywood crime dramas. 1940's-50's


These films tend to include an antagonist who acquires a very cynical attitude, consequently there is also a protagonist who is stereotypically a dark haired, handsome man. His determination to resolve whatever crime or dispute has taken place is commonly driven by sexual motivations, as his mind is regularly occupied by a femme fatale; French for deadly woman. She is a seductive woman, who's charm can often drive a man to obsession and the inability to make rational decisions. She is definitely a dangerous character. In opposite to this, a femme fatale can also be a victim, caught in a terrible situation from which she cannot escape. An example of this is in the film, The Lady from Shanghai, 1947 film noir. 


Conventions of Film Noir
- filmed in greys, blacks and whites
  stylist lighting and high contrast
  lots of shadowing and obscurity
  dramatic angles


-they follow a dark, tragic narrative and style. 
  the plot structures are fairly twisted and complex
  non-linear - flashbacks
  non-chronological


- they often highlight issues such as economic depression 
  they also show the conflict between classes,
  romance difficulties; unrequited love and poor judgement
  and of course the central focus, crime, this can then be linked to assassination and death.