The city provides the social and spatial backdrop of the unfolding narrative of cinema. With classic film noir movies, the exterior urban settings were big cities with dimly lit rain-slicked streets and flashing neon signs. The interiors spaces of claustrophobic rooms or vast abandoned warehouses are lit with low key lighting, adding to a gloomy and pessimistic mood. The atmosphere of the city exudes corruption, complexity, control and shadows. Dark Knight, Equilibrium, Renaissance, and Alphaville stylize the city in various ways that draw from, but not necessarily adhere to the classic film noir portrayal of the city.
SUE TANG       ARCH 443       CREDITS