Film noir: A French term meaning “black film,” or film of the night.

A film genre that doesn't make you think about happy endings.

Locations that reek of the night, of shadows, of alleys and of cities.

cigarettes.

women who would sooner kill you than love you.

women wear floppy hats, dresses high heels, lipstick etc.

men wear fedoras, suits and ties. 

minimal editing: fades/wipes, jump cuts, low/high angles etc.

relationships in which 'love is the final card in the poker game of death"

inspired by American gangster films; german expressionsim; french realism.