Review of Chinatown (1974) by David%20 K — 12 Jun 2017

The film began as a perfectly constructed detective/mystery film. Contrasting the transparency of Gittes with the confusion of both the story and other characters served to create a perfect mystery atmosphere.

Yet the film dragged your attention away from the most powerful aspect of the narrative. In covering the nature of the film's main complication Polanski masterfully masked the true mystery. As we were concentrating on who may be dumping gallons of freshwater during a major drought, a mother struggled with her chaotic and tragically incestuous relationship with her daughter.

While the main antagonist was ultimately presented as being the most obviously fitting character it was not for the crime the audience expected. It was for something completely unexpected and shocking.

Therefore, Polanski inverted the conventional nature of a mystery film (it was not "who" had done it, but "what" in fact he had done.) On top of this was the role of the detective Gittes, who returned to the life he had left behind.

By the end of the film, it became obvious that I was watching a tragedy. The film took so long to perfectly craft a mystery, which was ultimately never solved. Yet the brilliance of Polanski lies in the fact I no longer cared.

What I cared more about was about what was introduced only minutes before. The destruction of a mother and daughters shocking yet optimistic relationship.