Convetions of Film Noir

Conventions of Film Noir

When looking at Film Noir there are many stylistics and thematic that accompany each other to create this iconic genre. Over the years there has been many controversy whether to label this ‘art form’ a genre because of it’s classic independence.

When looking at the classic visual style of Film Noir they are associated with low key lighting, contrast of light and dark and dramatic shadows of lines and patterns, this style also known as Chiaroscuro. These shadows of Venetian blinds or banister rods reflect upon a character, wall or the entire room and is an iconic visual within Noir. Visual style is shown through Cinematography in film noir and is easily recognisable because of its expressive lighting, deep focus of depth of field camera work, disorientating visual schemes, jarring editing or juxtaposition of elements, ominous shadows and skewed camera angles. Shots of characters reflected in one or more mirrors, shots through curved or frosted glass.

These cinematic choices emphasise the story’s themes and moods. Film Noir presents themes of anxiety, pessimism, suspicion, alienation, disillusionment, disenchantment, good vs evil, moral corruption, desperation, paranoia, cynical attitudes and sexual motives.

When looking at the storylines of Film Noir they were often elliptical, non linear and twisting. Narratives were frequently complex, maze like and convulted and typically told with foreboding background music and flashbacks. The flashbacks were shown through dissolves, wipe of fades. The plot and feelings of characters were narrated through voice over’s as a narrative structure device.

The plot is always a crime usually murder and is an element of most Film Noirs. The motivation of the crime is usually due to greed, lust and jealousy. In other common plots the protagonists is involved in heists or murderous conspiracies often involving adulterous affairs. In the heart of various settings Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco. Chicago. These high class places famous for wealth and beauty is turned into the underworld where Film Noir expresses the dark side of the human mind.

The most iconic characters within Film Noir is the Main Protagonist who is presented on screen as lonely and easily led. He captures the eye of a Femme Fatale who leads him into her manipulative and corrupted schemes leaving him to take the blame.