NW / Film Noir

Themes

The themes of film noir are usually based around moral ambiguity and sexual motivation. This way of making a film is often regarded as very pessimistic and is usually based in a world that is inherently corrupt. This is shown in the usual use of corrupt members of the police or other people who are usually regarded with high authority. The films often had a sense of heightened anxiety as this is said to have followed WWII

Visual Techniques

The visual techniques used in film noir are very iconic as the use of low-key lighting and shadows is known to anyone even if they do not realize that it is to do with film noir. The characters faces are often obscured or covered with shadow this is very popular with modern day hollywood as it adds a fear of the unknown and can seem people seem very sinister. There is also very often the use of disorientating camera shots, like dutch angles and low angle shots, along with people often being only seen in reflections in mirrors or other surfaces.

Narrative

The narrative tends to be centered around the protagonist with him often telling the story line using flashbacks or flash forwards, it is also usually a very convoluted story line. The story is usually based on crime, heists or cons, accusations and double crosses.

Characters

Film noir often has misunderstood and morally flawed characters and there are also the stock characters such as the detective and femme fatal. The femme fatal is often noted for her treachery and almost always dies before the end of the film as there is usually a sense of karma by the end of the films as people usually get their "just deserts". There are many iconic props associated with the femme fatals like the trails of smoke and there is also usually a shot of her legs moving up to her body and she is often objectified however she uses this to her advantage as the film goes on.