Part 5/13:
What makes noir instantly recognizable is its distinctive style, a visual language heavily rooted in black-and-white cinematography marked by high contrast lighting and stark shadows. These elements serve to evoke feelings of depression, hopelessness, and moral ambiguity. Key stylistic features include:
Black and White Imagery: While exceptions exist, the black-and-white palette emphasizes contrast, shadow, and atmosphere.
Low-Key Lighting & Shadows: Hard, angular shadows cast by blinds or streetlights create dramatic silhouettes, often resembling prison bars, symbolizing entrapment and confinement.
Fog and Wet Streets: These atmospheric elements amplify the sense of mystery and obscurity, mirroring the blurred moral lines.