Noir

France's Parliament is close to symbolically repealing the Code Noir, the 1685 royal ordinance that regulated slavery in the French colonies. According to Outre-mer La 1ère, the vote would be largely symbolic, as the decree is no longer in force, but it carries strong historical and memorial significance for overseas territories and descendants of enslaved people.

The 1953 film noir 99 River Street, starring John Payne, is drawing renewed attention from classic cinema fans online. Discussion centres on its promotional poster art, with commenters noting how bluntly the artwork advertised the film's violence, and comparing its bold graphic style to pop art of the following decade. The Phil Karlson-directed picture remains a cult favourite among noir enthusiasts.

A true-crime account is revisiting an April 1932 murder mystery in Badalona, Spain. Businessman Antonio Carrera had finally evicted his tenant after months of unpaid rent, and the city woke to a case described as straight out of a noir novel. The story focuses on the detail said to have changed everything about the investigation.

Telltale Games is discussing how the remastered version of The Wolf Among Us preserves the tone and storytelling of the original episodic adventure. The studio says the goal is to keep the noir Fables-inspired atmosphere and character-driven writing intact while updating presentation for modern platforms. Fans of the 2013 series have long awaited news as Telltale works on returning to the franchise.

TerminalTribune published a piece in its economy section asking a pointed question: once machines generate and deliver information automatically, does anyone still check the underlying record — the receipt, the data, the source? The article's headline frames a concern about accountability and human oversight in an automated economy and press. Details of the argument beyond the headline are not available, so little can be confirmed about what the piece concludes.

The film podcast Yelling About Movies is devoting this week to two 1950 classics about Hollywood's destructive side: Billy Wilder's Sunset Boulevard and Nicholas Ray's In a Lonely Place. Two new episodes drop on Friday, exploring noir's bleak portraits of the dream factory and the people it drives to the brink.

Voices In The Dark Repertory Theatre is presenting "Le Code Noir," a new stage production. The company, based in New Orleans, is performing the work for local audiences, with coverage from regional outlets noting the run. Little further detail about the play's content, cast, or performance dates is available, but the production draws on the historical Black Code, the French colonial edict governing slavery.

An American aircraft is patrolling the Black Sea at Bulgaria's request, according to an AFP report carried by Noovo Info. The patrol comes as tensions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine keep the region on alert, with NATO members bordering the Black Sea seeking allied surveillance of their airspace and waters.

Attention is turning to The Reckless Moment, Max Ophüls' 1949 film noir starring Joan Bennett as a housewife who, after finding the body of her teenage daughter's lover, takes desperate steps to shield her family from scandal. The film, now in the public domain in the United States, is being shared and discussed, with its story of blackmail, money and maternal desperation drawing renewed appreciation.

The 1948 film noir Road House, starring Ida Lupino, is drawing fresh attention from classic film fans discussing its French release title, "The Cigarette Woman". One commenter questions why distributors changed the name rather than keeping the original, musing that France has a similar concept. The discussion mixes praise for the film and its poster art with mild criticism of the lead actress's expression.

A film fan has asked for 1950s movie recommendations, kicking off a discussion where people are sharing their favourite titles from the decade. The era remains popular with cinephiles for its Hollywood classics, noir, and early foreign cinema, and recommendation threads like this tend to draw varied suggestions from casual viewers and film buffs alike.

A black-and-white photograph of street art in Singapore has been shared with photography enthusiasts, highlighting the city-state's public art and urban design scene. The image emphasizes monochrome contrast and reflections, framed within broader themes of modern style and visual art. It adds to ongoing interest in Singapore's public spaces and street-level creativity.

TerminalTribune published a piece asking what a recent exposé did not cover: namely, who continues to supply EU member states. The headline frames the story as a follow-up critique, suggesting an earlier revelation left unanswered questions about the suppliers involved. Details of what was exposed and who the suppliers may be are not stated in the headline.

The makers of Blade Runner 2099, the upcoming series set in the world of the 1982 sci-fi classic, say the show will upend the original film's signature look by trading its rain-soaked darkness for what they call 'sunshine noir'. The creative team describes a brighter, sunlit take on the dystopian universe while keeping its noir sensibility, a striking reversal of the visual style that defined the franchise.