Chinatown. Directed by Roman Polanski
Chinatown is one of the best films to emerge from the 1970s. Also, considers as Neo noir. Chinatown isn’t afraid to play with the conversation. The plot is about the private detective Jake Gittes who is hired by Mrs Mulwray about her husband’s affair. Jake gets himself into the murder and city’s corruption which related to the city’s water supply. The theme of the movie is femme fatale. The man always gets himself into the trouble because of a beautiful and dangerous woman. But Everlyn is not what she seems to be or what we expect that she’ll turn out to be. There’s a fragile humanity in her due to what she has been through.
Character Analysis:
Gittes has a nice office and 2 staffs. Also, he dresses very well. He’s good at what he’s doing but someone has to lead him to the hint first. For example, the Japanese gardener told him about the salt water then he realizes who’s the killer. Even though, Gittes is the main character. He doesn’t care much about the appearance. He has the bandage on his nose throughout the film. Also, the bandage on his nose doesn’t intend to make a funny look but to make the serious look.
Furthermore, Gittes thinks he can handle this problem but he has no idea what he’s dealing with. He finds out that Mrs Mulwray’s father is behind everything. He is the one who kills Hollis Mulwray. The money and power comes before everything in Chinatown. At the end, it reveals that Everlyn’s sister is also Everlyn’s daughter because her father rapes her.
There’s the twist ending when Everlyn’s gonna take her daughter away but her father won’t let her. Trying to drive away but Everlyn is shot and killed. Her body falls down to the floor. And close up to see Everlyn’s eyes. Poor little girl. Tragic. Gittes can’t believe what he sees he stares at Everlyn’s dead body till his fellows urge him to walk away with a famous quote. “Forget it Jake, It’s Chinatown” meaning that everything can happen in Chinatown. Don’t give a damn about it.
