Film Noir is often celebrated as the quintessential American genre, but its dark heart was born in the shadows of post-WWI Berlin. We will trace the haunting lineage of cinema’s most seductive style—from the distorted, jagged sets of German Expressionism to the back alleys of 1940s Los Angeles.

We will investigate how the "visual angst" of refugee filmmakers transformed the  California dream into a claustrophobic nightmare of fate, obsession, and moral ambiguity. By analyzing the migration of cinematic techniques and narratives we will uncover how the trauma of a fractured Europe redefined the American screen. Video clips and film recommendations will be included