Film Noir
Throughout the years, many different kinds of film genres have come and gone. However, one of them that has lasted the test of time is no doubt film noir. Now many would argue that film noir is not really a genre, but a style. Alain Silver, one of the world’s leading specialists in film noir says that film noir is “a cycle and a phenomenon that has a consistent set of visual and thematic codes.” Some even say that film noir is an atmosphere or a mood. In any case, the bottom line is that film noir has monumentally changed the movie industry, from the way characters are now to the way directors choose to set up their lighting.
Use of heavy shadows in "Citizen Kane"
Like Silver said, film noir movies follow a “consistent set of visual and thematic codes.” Most film noir movies are shot in black and white, with the exception of neo-noir movies. What sets film noir movies apart from others is mostly the fact that in every film noir movie, there is always a sad, depressing and somber story line. Even the settings themselves scream depression. Every thing is always dark and obscure, not to mention the fact that often it is raining. Also, there is never much light on set. Lighting is specifically set to highlight certain character’s faces and hide others. By using very little lighting, this produced many dark/light contrasts. Often, actors’ faces were either fully obscured or partially hidden, as in the case of the cliched film noir signature: There would always be a shadow of a pole or Venetian blinds cast on the faces of the actors. On many occasions, directors would even seek to use different disorienting devices which further add mystery and confusion to the setting of the story. Another way, directors would create disorientation is through the use of awkward camera angles, which was a first in cinema. Film noirdirectors used a lot of low-angled camera shots and wide angled lenses. The way film noir movies look are very deeply rooted in German Expressionism, “a cinematic movement from the 1910′s an 1920′s.” It is because of this movement that many of the scenes in film noir movies are made to look gloomy and morbid. To recap, film noir settings are not exactly pleasant.
German Expressionism in "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari"
Then, we get to the ever popular characters that distinguish film noir movies from others. Of course, there is always the femme fatale who first appears as a desperate woman in need of rescue, but that is all a disguise. We later find out that she is a conniving woman out to destroy anyone that gets in her way. Then, there is the strong yet suave lead man. In many cases, the man seems as though he is in control, but then we find out that he is weak and inferior to the femme fatale. Every time, the lead man is with the femme fatale, he becomes weak, pathetic and definitely no longer worthy of the name “lead man”.When the two are together, the femme fatale is in control; she wears the pants in the relationship. She gets him to do whatever she wants, whether it be lying, stealing, or even killing another person. The femme fatale does not care about anyone but herself.
There are many things that set film noir movies apart from other genres, but in any case, regardless of what they are, the main difference that sets film noir from other genres in the fact that film noir inspired so many other genres that followed it. It set a new tone, atmosphere and way of life. Film noir pioneered and paved the way for othe movies to become great. So many films today have been inspired by film noir. Many of them take from the elements of film noirsuch as the low-key lighting, the high contrast shots and the use of wide angled lenses. There are even many foreign films that are considered as film noir such as Fritz Lang’s “M” (Germany, which also featured Peter Lorre and Jean-Luc Godard’s “A bout de souffle” (France). To say that film noir is only a movie “genre: would be a crucial mistake because the truth is that film noir has completely shaken the film industry.
