We reveal the second program section of the year’s NFF edition – British Noir Strikes Back!

The Noir Film Festival has long sought to demonstrate that alongside the US, film noir with its archetypal characters, dark visual style and existential outlook on life has also taken root in a number of other countries around the world. After circling the globe and making stops in Europe, Latin America and Asia, we return to a place where, given the historically strong tradition of detective stories and crime narratives, we have perhaps the greatest debt – the United Kingdom. The section focusing on British contributions to the noir aesthetic will demonstrate the high level of craftsmanship as well as ingenuity of the local film industry. Gaslight (1940), based on Patrick Hamilton’s 1938 play, is every bit as good and suspenseful as the more famous Hollywood adaptation of the same material from 1944, and offers an atmospheric glimpse into Victorian England with the brilliant Anton Walbrook in the lead role. Obsession (1949), directed by American Edward Dmytryk, is a notable psychological study of pathological fixation and revenge. The latest film in the collection, The Hunted (1952), presents a variation on the popular theme of characters on the run from the law and their past, and features a brilliant performance by Dirk Bogarde in his breakthrough role. Two more titles are still to be announced. We are honored that the British Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Matt Field, has agreed to lend his patronage to this year’s festival. (mh)