Film Noir

Film Noir is a film genre which is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas which is mainly for those that emphasise the moral ambiguity and sexual motivation seen within them. Also classified as providing dark or fatalistic interpretations of reality which means "black film" in  French. The films in it's late 1940s to the early 1950s that often portrayed a rough or criminal underworld and cynical characters. Films seen within that era were often noted for their use of harsh, expressionistic lighting and stylised camera work which was often employed in a more urban area/settings. The reason, why 'Film Noir' is effective, is because it involves different lightings such as: low key, high key, under lighting  and back lighting therefore, these lighting effects would create apprehension on the audience, which would make them even more appealed and intrigued in wanting to watch more.

One still image from the film'Noir'

In this Film Noir still image there is use of low-key lighting. they have used this key light very strongly as the light on his face is so dark.The use of the low-key lighting creates the contrast shadow harsh lighting and shadow on the wall behind the character in the frame.There is no use of filler lighting because of the strong contrast and the shadow. The still image creates a mystified character in the image. The use of the face being covered by the amount of lighting the still image creates very negative feature of the character; suggesting that the character has links to the criminal world or is in a dilemma related to a crime. the still image being  in darkness creates a very negative atmosphere for the character in the still image and the atmosphere for the film 'Noir'. The characters Hat and the cigarette is also in the dark with low key lighting which could connote that he wants to keep his identity hidden. Moreover,  it brings out a very negative view of the character in the still image. the spark of light at the background shows there could be a sign of hope or escape for the character in the still image.the location  that the still image is placed looks like an alley way- small and squashed together and the fact that they used low-key lighting here affects the audience emotions, is it makes them feel insecure and almost frightened of the character used in the still image.

one short extract of the film'noir'

At the beginning of this film trailer, high key lighting is used when walter winchell gives the report. high key lighting is used here. High-key lighting means that more filler light are used.this effect of this is that it makes it more realistic.'A report from Walter Winchell' and the man starts talking and here the key light stays constant ( high-key). the scene changes and we see a man running from something the we don't know. Here low key lighting is used.  The use of a low-key lighting in that specific part of the extract is effective, because it creates an enigma code to the audience; this would make the audience question themselves about who was that man and what did he say to him?. Also, direct mode address  could foreshadow something bad is going to happen later on of the film, because of they way his emotions has been presented. Moreover, high key and low key lighting (under his eyes, side of his face and one side of his blazer) is used in this clip, to connotes that he is furious.