Question

The video program shows cinematographer John Bailey saying,"There is an element in film noir, in the way the light and shadow is used in such extreme contrast, that is almost religious or spiritual or philosophical." What does Bailey mean? Do you agree with Bailey's vision of film noir as an encounter between good and evil, and that its moral undercurrent accounts for the use of strong black and white cinematography? Give examples from films you know.

Answer 1

Bailey meant that the way noir films are shown, allows these films to reach a very strong and intense degree and impressionism, being able to touch the viewer in a religious, spiritual and philosophical way.

Step-by-step explanation:

Films Noir is a genre of film that combines the art of cinema and the plastic arts. This type of film is marked by supence and offers police narratives involving romance, but not only that. Noir films are marked by a characteristic aesthetic, where the images are passed in shades of black, white and gray, creating a very strong visual identity for this genre of film and also being able to intensify the content of the narrative passed in the film.

The black, gray and white tones of the noir films leave the film with a poetic and seductive influence, which makes the concepts of good and evil very evident and allows the viewer to identify with the story and the characters.

An example of this can be seen in the film "Gilda", where the contrast of light and shadow, allows us to feel the wills and despairs of the characters in an impactful way.

Answer 2

Check the explanation

Step-by-step explanation:

What Bailey meant was that the manner by which the lighting is presented in these films captures the viewers in such manner that cannot be achieved by films.

It emotionally attaches the audience to the film and then breaks that attachment when they are mostly not expecting something, just about the way religion is. I do have the same opinion with Bailey's vision of film noir. The black and white cinematography plays a very enormous role in the film noir movie.

It is even believed in the book that since movies is for the most part shot in color now the film noir "genre" is dead and are now classified as psuedo-noir. I also have the opinion that the lighting offers us this effect of both the good and evil and without it the movie would not be as prevalent as it was. I assume this is best seen in a movie not technically or precisely defined as film noir but i think could be, Schindler's List.

Although a movie/film that was made in the 90's, this movie has some enormous basics of film noir in it. Going by the way the lighting was displayed. Spielberg utilized the lighting to heighten the sense of good vs. evil in the film.