German expressionism began in Germany in the early 20th century with films like Der student von Prag in 1913 but World War I isolated German filmmakers, allowing the style to develop independently. German expressionism emphasized expression over narrative through techniques like contrasting light and dark and abstract architectural designs. It flourished in the 1920s but declined after the Nazis rose to power, though it influenced later genres, including American film noir. Film noir heroes are typically flawed men with dark pasts who understand the cynical world but are undone by femme fatales they become involved with.

1. German expressionism
and the portrayal of
heroes in film noir

2. German expressionism; a brief
history
German expressionism as a school of cinema began in Germany in the first quarter
of the 20th century. The era of German expressionism typically begins in a big way
with the production of the film ‘’Der student von Prag’’ in 1913 , but the 1st world
war in Europe cut off Germany from the rest of the world, and so from innovative
techniques being developed in other places, such as Hollywood. During this time,
German cinema was developing under it’s own influence, and by the time the
1916 ban on importation was lifted in 1922, German cinema experienced a boom
in the era known commonly as the Weimar period, even to become a sizeable
competitor to American cinema. Unfortunately, after the era of German
enlightenment came to an end with the rise of the Nazis, german expressionism as
an art form was pushed out and adopted in countries like the US, where it was
used to influence the creation of genres like film noir.

3. Features of German expressionism
German expressionism more often than not relies on et design and
cinematography than story and the processes that are part of this, as said by
Hermann Warm: “the film image must become graphic art”. Within this is the ideas
around Chiaroscuro, or the use of heavy clashes between light and dark to
encapsulate the socio-political situation of the time. Furthermore, the heavy use of
abstract patterns and architecture, albeit with form and grace which was one of
the heavy influences behind art-deco architecture (organised form within abstract
patterns).

4. HEROES IN FILM NOIR
Heroes in film noir are often presented as fundamentally flawed
individuals that have a dark past, or are involved with something dark
and sinister (a good example is Russell Crowe’s portrayal of Bud White
in L.A Confidential). These characters are often not bad people, only
pessimistic or realistic individuals who appear to understand the world
better than most. The most common undoing of these characters is
their involvement with the film’s femme-fatale (again, the character of
Bud White is involved with a femme fatale, who is then used to
manipulate him, if briefly).