Archetypes of Film Noir

Film Noir is an American movement that emerged after WWII and championed new filmmaking techniques and philosophical theories in a time of profound unrest both at home and abroad. The term film noir itself was coined by French critics who, now that foreign films were more accessible, noticed a marked change in pre and post war American cinema. I hope to create a black and white film for my coursework and gravitated naturally towards film noir, as I feel this style allows the most scope for costume design, special effects make up and impactful lighting whilst enabling me to manipulate audience expectations.

Cinematography and Lighting

Film noir is famed for its use of angular shadows in the form of Chiaroscuro lighting, which marries the contrast between bright light and pitch black. Wide shots are typically used with a large depth of field to ensure the whole image is focused, thus creating a sense of immediacy. That being said, it is not uncommon for characters to be partially obscured by shadow so that the outline of their face disappears or for light sources to be softened.

Mood and Philosophical Outlook

Existentialism is often believed to be a direct product of WWII and consequently grounds the thinking of many noir protagonists; the notion that life lacks a defined meaning and everyone must ascribe their own reason for living is likely linked to the needless casualties caused by conflict. In film noir itself, existentialism is a side effect of fatalism, the belief system that enshrines the predetermination of all events. Characters in noir are often victims of circumstance or responsible for a single mistake that spirals out of control, and thus the panic or hysteria that ensues are examples of the powerless nature of man and the consequences of one’s actions.

The isolated feel of urban environments is also thematically prominent in noir fiction, furthered by settings of back alleys or flats. As isolation makes characters vulnerable, it becomes necessary for facilitating a criminal underworld featuristic of noir.

Character Archetypes

Standing in opposition to traditional heroes, protagonists of noir are anti-emotional, world-weary and cynical. They are also almost always single men working as private eyes and struggling with psychological difficulties, which results in them following their own moral code. For this reason I think it would be interesting to allocate the main character to the archetype of femme fatale, a dangerous and power-hungry siren who tempted susceptible men. The psychological workings of the femme fatale are often kept mysterious and by the film’s climax are domesticated to restore masculine dominance. I would avoid both instances in my coursework by incorporating a voiceover that would act as the femme fatale’s conscience and ensure she remained independent by the film’s ending. Femme fatale costumes often consist of a dress with a low neckline, elbow-length gloves, floppy hats, fur coats, lipstick and mascara. I am interested in faking a tattoo for my short film and could challenge the pristine image of a seductive woman by including this too in her costume, though as of yet I am unsure of the design I would use.