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How Does Gittes Build Suspense In Chinatown Film

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Chinatown, directed by Roman Polanski, was a private-eye film released in 1974. Private investigator J.J. Gittes investigates what looks to be a classic case of adultery, but he quickly uncovers much more than just broken wedding vows. Throughout the film, Gittes is captured by the camera such that only his face is in the scene, thus allowing the audience to observe details that may otherwise be overlooked. In Chinatown, directed by Roman Polanski, the main character J.J. Gittes is frequently shot with close-up shots to portray his emotions, his heightened senses, and his reasoning process to demonstrate his investigative process and thus build up suspense in a scene.
A director will call for the use of a close-up shot if he wants the audience to focus on the …show more content…

The audience is now feeling the same emotions that Gittes is feeling, further immersing them in the film. Upon hearing the shots, Gittes takes cover in a nearby water drain. The following shots is another close-up of Gittes as he hides in the drain. His look of immense concentration is replaced by fear and uncertainty. He is breathing very heavily, and his eyes are darting around in search of the gunman. These subtle details would normally go unnoticed by the audience, but because they are captured with a close-up shot, the audience is able to observe these details easily. The scene has now gone from calm, with Gittes being in control, to chaotic and full of mystery. The uncertainty only rises when Gittes is suddenly swept away by a wave of water that is rushing down the drain he is hiding in. After being thrown against a catch fence at the end of the drain, Gittes decides it is time to leave and begins to make a swift exit. The shot of Gittes walking towards his car is another close-up, starting at his soaked shoes and working its way up to his face. His emotions have changed again and based on his facial

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