Film Noir: What is it?

            Last meeting we watched a documentary about Film Noir. As what I’ve learned from the video, Film Noir is a black film which usually focuses about the difficult circumstances and struggles that humans experience in their lives. Mostly, the theme is dark and mysterious, it centers on the jeopardy of life. It shows what really life in the world is, and often reveals dark secrets of human nature. The setting happens in urban area, particularly on the streets, where most crimes happen. As the story goes along in Film Noir, circumstances become harder to endure. We do not know what’s going on, but we know that something bad is coming. Characters become entwined in bad situations. When we see a film noir, we witness the character’s tales of survival. The story circulates on the character experiencing bad circumstances, and as one problem occurs, another problem will happen at the same time, until the character is in a downward spiral position.

Females in Film Noir (Femme Fatale)

            Emergence of male characters wanting sex is also a part of Film Noir. Females are often portrayed as extremely sexual, smart and powerful. She uses her sexuality not after the man, but after what she wants, something for herself. Female characters in Film noir can be seen with long hairs, long fingernails and often smokes, signs of a woman without morals. Sexual scenes are prominent in Film Noir, women getting a man into a bed, then into trouble. There is what we called “male fantasy” where women become uncontrollable. Sometimes you see an innocent young lady who is a demon. Love in Film Noir becomes obsession, it becomes more deadly.

Lights

          Lights are important element of Film Noir, it allows the film to be more dramatic.  Lighting technique is effective in creating mystery in the film. Usually, the lights are a part of the story in Film Noir. One uses of lights in Film Noir is altering the space through the lights to make the scene more interesting. Lights creates mood in the story. It gives emotion to the flow of the story and impresses the audience with its ambiance. A scene in Film Noir usually involves characters in a dark place where only lights and shadow are visible. This effect adds drama to the story, and at the same time, gives more life to the film.

Conclusion

            As mentioned in the video, Film Noir ended because color films already emerged in modern generation. It is considered a historical genre. But even though we cannot watch Film Noir every day, basic human problems are still the same whether it is portrayed in colored or black and white films. Film noir can be relived, not only in a black film, but also in a colored film.

It is the story and elements of Film noir that makes it unique to any other movie genre.