Filmic Techniques used to make the argument

By analyzing the last scene in Chinatown, we can see how Polanski uses filmic techniques to symbolize the argument against urban sprawl.

Point-of-View Shot

When the car approaches the place of destination for the group, we see the city from the perspective of Gittes in the back seat. There are pedestrians, a glowing neon sign flashing “Hong Kong”, traffic on the street, and store fronts advertising their business. Driving through the streets at night, the liveliness of the city is paraded in front of the audience like an exciting carnival ride. The audience is moved through and directly into the center, the heart, of the city at night. It is an experience best felt through the protagonist’s lens and in using a point-of-view shot, this sense of reality is accomplished.