you can't save anyone

Trycia 2022-04-23 07:01:15

Why keep mentioning Chinatown?

Chinatown is a metaphor. One day, screenwriter Robert Towne went out to buy a dog, and the dog was sold to him by a patrolman. The two chatted, Towne asked him where he was patrolling, and the patrolman said it was in Chinatown. Towne asked again, what do you usually do when you patrol? The patrolman responded to Jack's line in the film - "Do nothing as much as possible."

Because in the United States at that time, the Chinese in Chinatown were too different from the mainstream American culture. Once a situation occurred, the patrol police did not know whether they were assisting or stopping the crime, so they simply did nothing.

Towne thought, this statement is perfect, both nihilistic and pessimistic, a wonderful symbol and metaphor, so "Chinatown" was born, and this meaning has become Jack's backstory.

The young Jack left Chinatown, thinking that if he left this land, he would be able to return to the sunshine of LA. In fact, the ending appeared early in the morning. The title customer entrusted Jack to investigate whether his wife was cheating. After obtaining clear evidence, he threatened to kill his wife. Jack's answer was "Give it up, you are not the kind of rich and powerful person"; to the film Later, Jack almost screams at the vice team about Evelyn's father's crimes - "He's rich, and he thinks he can get away with it."

There is a sequence in the film where Evelyn and Jack are lying on the bed, Evelyn asks Jack about his past, Jack says that he is trying hard to protect someone from harm, but in the end it will definitely hurt her. Evelyn then asked, "Is she dead?" The phone rang and Evelyn would never know the answer, but she also told the audience what happened in Chinatown from her own experience.

The triangles and circles in "Homecoming" are turned upside down, but they fit perfectly, not bad; you think you are helping her, but in fact you can't save anyone.

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Extended Reading
  • Athena 2022-03-23 09:01:16

    Every time the embankment bursts, the evil is tumbling, washing the conscience of the city, and every breath is gradual. The truth is tingling the nerves. Every time I wake up, the old nightmare becomes clearer, so justice dries up and my nose collapses. He was bleed and his memories were dark and gloomy. He wanted to escape and was teased by fate. He said that it is impossible for people to step into the same river twice, but people might die in the same place twice. This place is called Chinatown.

  • Darrell 2022-03-25 09:01:05

    The perfect noir film in my mind should be so. The outstanding OST brings melancholy temperament, as well as unpredictable women, men who are both evil and righteous, the ending of a black one, justice is a symbol of stupidity. The details of this film are great, especially the car horn. She touched her head lightly in a panic, and my heart tightened.

Chinatown quotes

  • Jake Gittes: May I speak frankly, Mrs. Mulwray.

    Evelyn Mulwray: You may if you can, Mr. Gittes.

  • Noah Cross: Exactly what do you know about me? Sit down.

    Jake Gittes: Mainly that you're rich, too respectable to want your name in the newspapers.

    Noah Cross: Of course I'm respectable I'm old! Politicians ugly buildings and whores all get respectable if they last long enough.