The "femme fatale" concept both intrigues and terrifies us. There´s something powerfully alluring about stylish women who are expert killers. Femme fatales also threaten societal norms–the overwhelming majority of cultures on Earth don´t allow women to fight in wars, so "girls with guns" are rather anomalous. Still, these paradoxical creatures so capture the popular imagination that they often become the primary focus of our attentions. (For example, the coolest character in the "The Matrix" series is probably Trinity.) The term "femme fatale" loosely means "deadly woman", but in fictional worlds, femme fatales are usually not clearly identified as good or bad, even if they are in the employ of good or bad characters. This lack of moral identification parallels the ambiguous space occupied by femme fatales in cultural psychology.
In 2001, the television series "Noir" was one of the most popular shows in Japan. In "Noir", 2 young hitwomen cooperate in order to use shared clues that point to a linked past. The Japanese Kirika Yumura has a pocket watch that plays a tune that triggers the Corsican Mireille Bouquet´s memories of her childhood. Instinctively, both Kirika and Mireille know that they should call themselves "Noir"–a name that will reveal their true identities as well as their destinies.
ADV Films is handling the distribution of "Noir" in the United States. "Noir Volume 4: Death Warrant" includes the episodes "Season of Hell", "A Bouquet of Flowers for Mireille", "The Cold-Blooded Killer Acte 1", and "The Cold-Blooded Killer Acte 2". There are a bunch of plot developments in these four episodes that I should let you experience on your own. However, you might be interested to know that Mireille´s uncle appears in "A Bouquet of Flowers for Mireille", and there´s the possibility that a family of assassins could be formed. The "The Cold-Blooded Killer" episodes were pretty cool for me because they involved Les Soldats ordering Mireille and Kirika to kill the leaders of a Triad group based in Taiwan. In Taiwan, they encounter a female assassin who uses poisoned nails to eliminate her targets.
There are some very nice touches that make "Noir" special. For example, most of the series is set in Europe, so it doesn´t feel like the usual anime. The characters´ psyches are more complex than their outward appearances insinuate. I also admired the show´s sense of existential dreariness. Right off the bat, in the first episode, Mireille tells Kirika that she (Mireille) will kill her (Kirika) once they uncover their collective pasts. Kirika responds by saying that she looks forward to the day when Mireille will kill her.
I have to mention the show´s music as well as the animation direction. The opening theme is really catchy. While I can´t sing the Japanese lyrics, I find myself humming the harmony quite often. I also really like the vocals-focused music that plays when the heroines head into action–it´s very gothic and emotional, as if to imply that each fight could be the girls´ last. The animation direction is incredibly detailed as well, including a "camera" that shakes to simulate live-action cameras´ shudders when zooming in on an object, reflective pauses that allow for viewers to catch their breath at the end of each episode before the closing credits, etc.
You´ll learn a bunch about Mireille while watching Volume 4, though keen viewers will have already guessed a lot of what is revealed. You´ll also get to see Kirika form an emotional connection with someone other than Mireille. The coolest thing about Volume 4 is the opportunity to witness four lethal young ladies battling for assassination supremacy. This is a departure from the usual girls-vs.-boys routine found on the other "Noir" DVDs, and the action style is simply breathtaking. I´m upping the Film Value for the series to an "8" once again.