Key features of noir
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Transcript of Key features of noir
Key features of Noir
Germain
Cinematography
• Long shots are used to show all of the subject & their surroundings
• Low angle shots are used to give certain characters power –femme fatale in double indemnity.
• Narrator used to provide extra detail & explanations
• Complex shots rarely used to save money
Mise-en-scene
• Props/iconography: Cigarettes, lipstick, guns, trilby, trench coats, rain running down windows, briefcases, money.
• Settings: Raining streets, new York city, alleyways.
• Lighting: Dark – opposing ecstasy mood with its pessimism, Black, Night time shots, low fill lighting – shadowy texture – therefore lighting is crucial. Chiaroscuro lighting, wide-angle, deep focus shots, high angle long shots, choker, close-ups, unbalanced compositions, usual framing devices, absence of establishing shots, jarring.
• Language used in film noir is very specific, language used illustrate lack of happiness to suit the darkened theme.
Editing
• Black & White filming
• A lot of fading in & out & dissolving
• Flashbacks for continuity – dreams or murdering
Sound
• Lots of dialogue, non-diegetic music and classic music/jazz or instrumental
• Sound added exaggerates the drama & effects
Themes
• Messages: mournful, death, fate, murder, corruption, sexual obsession, money, deceit, manipulation, betrayal
• Ideology: Power of vision and greed – Men & women were greedy, women were very seductive – lipstick, men had bad fate because of femme fatales but some women died too because of bad men
• Mood: claustrophobic, paranoid, anxious, despair, pessimistic, brooding, menacing, nihilistic (someone who believes in nothing)
Characterisation
• Femme fatales; darkened, Manipulative & greedy using men to get what they want, dirty, sexual, slutty, superior, provocative clothing, femme fatales can also be very masculine characters with guns as phallus symbol – basically the evil character
• Anti-hero males – popular in film noir - loser like characters –drink & smoke too much - earns little
• Male detectives: main characters – badly fated but all alike –hero
Narrative
• Classic femme fatales: the male meets & fall for a girl – femme fatale and manipulates him sexually. Crime is plotted & committed – usually ends up with bad fate as a consequence.