Film noir is a film genre that depicts cynical crime dramas through dark themes of fear, mistrust, and despair. It was influenced by German expressionism and American crime fiction of the early 20th century. The term "film noir" was coined by French film critic Nino Frank in 1946 to describe the dark visual style and themes present in many American films being released in France at the time. A femme fatale is a common stock character - a mysterious and seductive woman who ensnares her lovers and often leads them into dangerous or deadly situations through her hidden motives and feminine wiles.

1. By Tanisha Forde
FILM NOIR

2. Film Noir is a cinematic term, traditionally used to describe Hollywood crime
dramas particularly to emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations.
Many of these films include other topics like fear, mistrust, bleakness, loss of
innocence, despair and paranoia.
WHAT IS FILM NOIR

3. Film Noir was deeply influenced by German expressionism and American
literature, especially detective and crime fiction.
The term Film Noir was first discovered by French Film critic Nino Frank in
1946 when he noticed the trend of how dark and downbeat the appearance
and themes were of many American films along the topics of crime or
detective when released in France.
HISTORY OF FILM NOIR

4. An artistic movement of the 1910s and 20s. Expressionism involved theater,
photography, painting, sculpture, architecture and cinema. It took influences
from the growing Hollywood film industry and was consequently responsible
for films like Fitz Lang's M.
GERMAN EXPRESSIONISM

5. Definition: A stock character of a mysterious and seductive woman who
charms ensnare her lovers, often leading them into compromising, dangerous
and deadly situations
Coming from the french, Femme Fatale translates into fatal woman. The
female character tries to hide a her hidden purpose by using attributes that
only a woman possess. She may also imply or be a victim in some situations
caught in a problem that she cannot get out of therefore needing the help of
the protagonist character.
FEMME FATALE