Chinatown story
Chinatown is a 1974 American neo-noir mystery film directed by Roman Polanski from a screenplay by Robert Towne, starring Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway. The film was inspired by the California Water Wars, a series of disputes over southern California water at the beginning of the 20th century, by which Los Angeles interests secured water rights in the Owens Valley. The Robert Evans production, released by Paramount Pictures, was the director's last film in the United States and features many elements of film noir, particularly a multi-layered story that is part mystery and part psychological drama.
9 total · 2 choice · 5 major · 2 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| corruption in society | choice | was saw a lot of corruption related to water management and a dam proposal in Los Angeles |
| private investigator occupation | choice | The story centered on the work of PI Jake Gittes. |
| coping with the death of a family member | major | Evelyn dealt with the fact that her husband had been killed under mysterious circumstances. Katherine saw her mother, who was also her sister, shot dead. |
| infatuation | major | Jake became besotted with Evelyn, who reciprocated but was clearly more dedicated to her daughter-cum-sister |
| mother and daughter | major | Evelyn and Katherine |
| murder | major | A number of people were killed to cover up shenanigans around water management in Los Angeles. |
| romantic infidelity | major | Hollis Mulwray was in fact not cheating and we learn that Evelyn Mulwray was. |
| husband and wife | minor | Mr. and Mrs. Mulwray as told by Evelyn |
| incest in society | minor | Gittes had a child by his own daughter |