As with both styles of films, film noir is influenced by German Expressionism with its dark shadows and sharp lines. As in many films, Film Noir focuses on low key lighting, monochrome colours, and abstract angles. Films were made using a variety of techniques to convey their genre and themes.
FA, in full Universum Film-Aktien Gesellschaft, German motion-picture production company that made artistically outstanding and technically competent films during the silent era. Located in Berlin, its studios were the best equipped and most modern in the world. It encouraged experimentation and imaginative camera work and employed such directors as Ernst Lubitsch, famous for directing sophisticated comedies, and G.W. Pabst, a pioneer in the expressive use of camera position and editing techniques. There consistence success lead to them being able to stay and compete in business.
Expressionism, artistic style in which the artist seeks to depict not objective reality but rather the subjective emotions and responses that objects and events arouse within a person. The artist accomplishes this aim through distortion, exaggeration, primitivism, and fantasy and through the vivid, jarring, violent, or dynamic application of formal elements
https://www.britannica.com/art/Expressionism
1. The social disruptions and economic shortages of the Weimar Republic gave rise to new techniques and styles in German film-making dubbed Expressionism.
2. Unable to afford large casts or sets, directors looked for different cinematic and production techniques to render style, character and emotion.
3. Expressionist film-makers like F. W. Murnau and Fritz Lang were also concerned with darker storylines and themes, including horror and crime.
4. Expressionist directors developed innovative techniques, such as new uses for light, contrast, camera angles and movement.
5. These directors and their innovations came to influence the wealthier and more prolific film studios in Hollywood.
Citizen Kane is often cited as the greatest film ever made due to its innovative cinematography and camera composition. When talking about Citizen Kane talks about how his ignorance and inexperience led to giving Gregg Toland complete creative freedom over the cinematographic look of the film. This led to some of the most ground-breaking shots in cinemas history that are consistently replicated in modern cinema. Wells use of shadows helps to create different feelings around characters and set a different tone for different moments in the film Furthermore Wells use of angled shots such as low, high and Dutch angle shots have influenced the stereotypes we now attach with these shots. As well as this Wells use of depth of field has influenced countless numbers of films. This is one of the key features we now associate with modern Hollywood blockbusters. As well as this no Film can be considered the best of all time without a good story, Citizen Kane focuses on the demise and downfall of a once great man. We see his materialistic nature and ambition get the best of him and ultimately lead to his fall. Wells created a lonely anti villain that we ultimately want to succeed but due to his own mistakes he cannot. The non linier plot broke the mold of film making as nowadays it is very common to have a non linear plot but back then in 1941 this was ground-breaking also has a big part to play as we first see the death of Wells and only hear about him from his close friends and relations this creates an almost interview style with each character recalling good or bad memory’s that they had with him. This was a breakthrough in story telling in film and opened the doors for new ways to tell a story. The Film has also always managed to keep cultural relevance which has allowed different generations to take the same message from the film. Finally the ending Wells left the audience without an answer and was the first to do so, Modern cinema is filed with cliff hangers and films that make you think but once again Wells created this way before it would become fashionable.
This scene came across as definitely the most memorable scene and likewise my favourite as it creates a sense of isolation. Wells uses a constant deep focus which keeps all of the hard work and effort put into to running his campaign represented by the posters and banners for governor all wasted by himself. This helps to represent a turning point and a low of Kane’s life. This scene is almost used as a visual metaphor for Kane’s life unravelling. Wells uses a slow pan to introduce Jeremiah to the scene further adding to the isolation as he wants to leave. The low angle shot is typically used to show characters as powerful and mighty but wells uses it to downplay Kane’s ego making him look small and powerless about his future. For the majority of the scene Wells uses a wide angle medium long shot/long shot with Kane coming in and out if the shots. Wells just uses dialogue for this scene which creates the sense of reflection. Furthermore Wells uses one shot thorough the scene moving the camera around the floor to different locations. As well as this we see a long distance between Kane and Jeremiah foreshadowing the friendship that will soon end.