Film Noir- Mise-en-scene Deconstruction

Location

Film Noir’s are often set in urban places. These a places that the viewer can identify with to make the film seem more realistic. Quite often there is rain and damp streets using pathetic fallacy to imply a pessimistic mood. Low key lighting is also important with other locations including alleyways and warehouses. High key lighting may be used in locations such as a bar or lounge.

Lighting

The main lighting used is low key, this allows for shadows and silhouettes to be created. Low key lighting is a common convention in the film noir genre, high key lighting may also be used as a contrast to create more shadows. Low key lighting also allows a negative mood to be set. Another lighting technique used is shining light through venetian blinds to create a striped effect.

Costume/props

Cigars are used throughout film noir’s, this can help to set the time of the film. During the time most film noir’s were created it was seen as attractive to smoke and this is why it is so popular in these films. Another common prop is alcohol to fit in with the location such as lounges and bars used in the film noir genre. Neon lights can be used to portray a tacky, run down city and the most common weapon used in this genre is a gun. Costumes can also be used to give someone a sense of character for example, the main lady is normally seen wearing red to show that she is a seductress/femme fatal. The male characters are often seen wearing suits which is a common convention in the film noir genre. 

Sin City 2 Trailer

This film is set in the city. The opening shot is an establishing shot.

This film conforms to the common conventions of film noir's having cigars.

The seductress/femme fatale is seen wearing red lipstick this is one of the only other colours seen in the film other than black and white. 

Alcohol is a common prop used in the film noir genre.

Lighting during the trailer is low key. This is emphasised by the black and white filter used throughout the film. High key lighting is also used in some parts to create shadows and silhouettes. The trailer being mainly in black and white also makes the genre easy to identify.

Guns are seen all the way through the trailer used by both the males and females.