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    The History of Experimental Cinema

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    27tiwaria
    The document discusses the history and elements of film noir, including that it originated in France to describe American detective films, common elements include anti-hero protagonists and high-contrast lighting, and neo-noir films provide a modern twist to noir elements.

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    The History of Experimental Cinema

    Uploaded by

    27tiwaria
    8 views4 pages
    The document discusses the history and elements of film noir, including that it originated in France to describe American detective films, common elements include anti-hero protagonists and high-contrast lighting, and neo-noir films provide a modern twist to noir elements.

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    The document discusses the history and elements of film noir, including that it originated in France to describe American detective films, common elements include anti-hero protagonists and high-contrast lighting, and neo-noir films provide a modern twist to noir elements.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    8 views4 pages

    The History of Experimental Cinema

    Uploaded by

    27tiwaria
    The document discusses the history and elements of film noir, including that it originated in France to describe American detective films, common elements include anti-hero protagonists and high-contrast lighting, and neo-noir films provide a modern twist to noir elements.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 4

    The History of Experimental Cinema

    What is Film Noir?


    Film Noir translates to “Black Film” because it was used by critics to describe films with
    darkness and pessimism in them. It was popular in France because it was often used to
    describe the American’s detective films. Elements like high-contrast lighting, and anti-hero
    protagonists were used in Film Noir films but not all films who use these elements are
    considered to be Film Noir. Many Film Noir films were made in the 1940s and 50s which
    caused a lot of films to have post-war disillusionment in them. At first, not many people were
    inclined to these types of films and some even called them inferior. Film Noir wasn’t
    officially recognized until 1973 when it was first used by Nino Frank in 1946.

    How is film Noir linked to experimental film?


    Film Noir is like an experimental film. Experimental film is described as films that test
    boundaries of filmmaking. Sound effects, lighting, dialogue and characters are experimented
    with and used in different ways. Film Noir tests the boundaries of filmmaking. Film Noir
    experiments with their characters which causes them to become an anti-hero protagonist.
    They also experiment with the lighting and sound effects. Different lighting techniques like
    high-contrast lighting, backlighting, low-key lighting are used. These types of techniques are
    used because they emphasise shadows and showing the contrast between the subject and their
    surroundings.

    How are the film elements such as lighting, sound, editing, cinematography and
    directing unique to noir?
    Lighting is important in Film Noir. Different lighting techniques are used to convey a
    character’s intentions or role in the movie. Film Noir uses lighting techniques like
    backlighting, a light is shining behind the subject making them look dark and mysterious, and
    stark chiaroscuro, black and white tones are displayed on screen to show contrast between the
    colours. These techniques play an interesting role in how the audience perceives the film.
    Sound elements like rain, footsteps and stillness all provide a mysterious and suspenseful
    atmosphere in the film. Film Noir films use editing to further emphasise the dark and
    mysterious vibe. Editing is often used to make the scenes look darker and achieve a high
    contrast look if the lighting doesn’t achieve that. Editing makes the scene look clearer so that
    no matter how dark it is, the whole scene is still visible enough to the audience. These
    techniques are extremely important. Cinematography in Film Noir focuses on a low-key,
    black and white style of filmmaking. Film Noir often shows mysterious and thrilling films
    which are made in a shadowy cinematographic style. It also uses a lot of German
    Expressionist cinematography. German Expressionist cinematography is very similar to Film
    Noir. It shows plenty of strong contrasts between black and white along with distorted sets
    and expressive dialogue just like Film Noir.

    What are some common elements in a film Noir story?


    The most common elements of Film Noir are their intricate and different plots, their lighting
    techniques which create a dark effect and their editing which adds a mysterious vibe to the
    film. Film Noir challenges boundaries. Instead of going with a perfect, righteous hero, Film
    Noir focuses on an anti-hero protagonist. Anti-hero protagonists perform both good and evil
    deeds but they still manage to save the world or be a hero in their own way. This isn’t the
    same as a traditional hero but it still works. Film Noir also works with intricate plots such as
    murder, crime, mystery. There’s also a lot of flashbacks in these films that either help or harm
    the character who is having them. Lighting is also important in Film Noir films. To create
    shadows and mysterious silhouettes, Film Noir uses different lighting techniques to create
    different atmospheres. This helps advise the audience on how to perceive the scene.

    What is Neo Noir?


    Neo Noir is a genre which uses the same elements as Film Noir but provides a modern twist
    to it. They are more graphic. It became popular during the post-World War II period. It uses
    dark stylized cinematography. It features characters who are troubled. The earliest Neo Noir
    films came in the 1960s and 70s. The plots of these films often show a mysterious and edgy
    side to the other genres. It isn’t exactly horror but very close to it. Many people describe it as
    “contemporary dark fiction”. These types of films are popular in today’s culture because of
    their anti-hero characters and mysterious plots.

    Name 3 famous Noir movies - Watch their trailers, site them and tell me what makes
    them Noir?
    Famous films like Gilda (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9hTdgygrlOg), The Maltese
    Falcon (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Yv-BPuqhW9U) and Double Indemnity
    (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yKrrAa2o9Eg) are famous Film Noir films. Gilda was part
    of the cycle of “women’s pictures” which features leading ladies as protagonists or
    antagonists. The film uses the idea of femme fatale. It had a modern but still dark and
    mysterious vibe to it. The Maltese Falcon makes great use of camera angles, lighting and
    characters who have sinister intentions. Their protagonist is an anti-hero character. Double
    Indemnity is regarded as one of the most famous Film Noir films. The film’s plot is based on
    crime. The lighting effects and camera angles also make it a great example of Film Noir. It
    used a femme fatale as well.

    In conclusion, Film Noir is a unique, dark film style which many enjoy. It is a
    cinematographic film which has a mood of pessimism, fatalism, and menace. It uses anti-hero
    characters, stark lighting effects, unique plots, and great camera angles. Film Noir can be
    very interesting to watch if it is well done. It is suspenseful that people watch it even today.
    Mainly it’s because the unique plot points and narrative devices are all extremely well
    thought out.

    Works cities

    American Plus. “Why We Love Film Noir”. American Plus. Date of publication not available.

    https://americanpulps.com/why-we-love-film-noir/ Accessed Saturday 4th April 2023.

    IMDb. “Double Indemnity (1944)”. IMDb. Date of publication not available.

    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036775/. Accessed Saturday 4th April 2023.

    GRIN. “Analyzing patriarchal gender relations within “Double Indemnity” (1944)”. GRIN.

    Date of publication not available. https://www.grin.com/document/320220. Accessed

    Saturday 4th April 2023.

    StudioBinder. “What is Film Noir? A Brief History with Examples from Cinema”.

    StudioBinder. June 27, 2021.

    https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-is-film-noir/#:~:text=Film%20noir%20is%20a%20s

    tylized,stretches%20back%20to%20the%201920s. Accessed Saturday 4th April 2023.


    DeMarco-Barrett, Barbara. “Writing Noir”. GothamWriters. Date of publication not

    available. https://www.writingclasses.com/toolbox/articles/writing-noir. Sunday 5th April

    2023.

    NFI. “Film Noir – Everything You Need To Know”. NFI. Date of publication not available.

    https://www.nfi.edu/film-noir/. Sunday 5th April 2023.

    Ostberg, Rene. “Neo-Noir”. Britannica. February 13th, 2023.

    https://www.britannica.com/art/neo-noir. Sunday 15th April 2023.

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