Yes, these are not the most read articles but we are sure sooner or later they will be useful to those who decide to properly understand everything related to genre trends. Especially considering the fact that at the moment there are practically no systematized Russian-language materials on this topic.
Today we will talk about the second genre, in which we are guided as well as in the western. We are interested in the noir genre. That is why you were met at the beginning of the article by such a hopeless quote. From 123movies you will find these options perfect.
What Is Noir?
The name of the genre comes from the French phrase film noir (“black film”). However, all this is encyclopedic information. You will recognize them from any article on the Internet. Especially considering how fashionable noir aesthetics have become recently. But the shell is not all. We will try to penetrate the essence of the phenomenon. In turn, I will try to state my thoughts in such a way that the information can be practically applied in the development of your script and / or film.
What is noir in the first place?
Here the quote from “Waste Paper” helps us, because it reflects the views on the world of most heroes of noir. Noir is the mood. Therefore, the first thing to understand when developing such a project is that the form is as important as the content, or even more important (in most cases).
What are the features of this form?
What is the beauty of style?
The whole whistle began with the “Maltese Falcon” in 1941, staged based on the novel by Dashil Hammett. And the very first film noir immediately set almost all the plot stereotypes of the genre.
- “Double insurance”Also, his films showed that the plot does not have to revolve around gangsters, police and private detectives.
- Sansed BoulevardAnyone can be a hero: for example, an insurance agent, a journalist, or a screenwriter (as in Wilder’s above noir).
So, if we analyze the overwhelming number of films, we can distinguish the following elements of noir.
- The gloom of the atmosphere. Night, plenty of shadows, contrasts, smoke, fog, rain or all together.
- The story unfolds in places where dark or illegal cases (hotels, offices, casinos, brothels, bars, prisons, etc.) can theoretically happen.
- The hero is for the most part a cynic (Humphrey Bogart from The Maltese Falcon has set a real trend) and does not mind getting his hands dirty for his own, usually selfish, goals.
- Positive characters are absent as such. Everyone has their own foulbrood.
- Lively dialogues resembling a shootout.
- The secondary nature of the plot, as well as its complexity, which often reflects the psychological state of the hero.
- The presence of the image of a fatal woman.
