1. Film Noir French for “Black Film”

2. What is it? 0 Crime Fiction.

3. Characteristics 0 Ambiguous narrative themes 0 Violent death 0 Stark, angular shadows. 0 The isolated feel of modern cities. 0 Conflicted anti-heroes and terse dialogue. 0 Determined, beautiful, scheming women. 0 Low-key lighting – causing black shadows 0 Depth of Field – More sharp, crisp, focused items 0 black and white visual style

4. Characters 0 Femme Fatales 0 Women as the central role, 0 glamorous 0 dangerous 0 seductive 0 Every action marked aimed at satisfying a desire for wealth and power – 0 Conflicted Hero 0 male protagonists (usually single) 0 frequently weak 0 confused 0 susceptible to temptation 0 incapable of acting heroically. 0 often detectives who were once cops 0 psychologically flawed or wounded 0 Villain or Situation 0 This places the hero in a position to problem solve

5. Plot Types 0 Range of plots: 0 the central figure may be a private eye 0 a plainclothes policeman 0 an aging boxer 0 a law-abiding citizen lured into a life of 0 simply a victim of circumstance

6. Titles 0 The Big Sheep 0 Chinatown 0 Maltese Falcon