Femme Fatales, Homme Directors...
Femme
fatales as one of the key elements of Film Noir became an enigmatic and
interesting piece in Hollywood of 1940’s. These beautiful women and their ability
to be in control, fascinated the audiences of that era. Kitty March (Scarlet
Street), Phyllis Dietrichson (Double Indemnity) and Maria
Braun (The marriage of Maria Braun) were very powerful and strong characters
that illustrated a different type of woman of that generation.
However,
most of these exciting characters were written and visualized by male directors.
The stories of those independent women were invaded by a male point of view
that doesn’t necessarily reflect the female desires and emotions.
Unfortunately
for their characters none of the femme fatales of these films had a happy ending.
All the characters mentioned before had a tragic death by the men they defrauded
or by an act of suicide. Were these directors trying to catch female audiences?
or Were they showing the consequences women can have by playing male roles?
Answers,
coming soon.
