Original artwork, not a still
Forget it, Jake, it's Chinatown.
— Chinatown ‧ 1974
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
It is a shrug of resignation said as a kindness. Chinatown is the name for the places where good intentions fail because the powerful are too well protected, and Walsh is telling Jake he cannot fix this and should stop trying. Fans use it for any rotten system, a hopeless office, a corrupt city hall, or a situation that has been beyond saving from the start. Robert Towne wrote the script, but Roman Polanski chose the bleak ending.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for ChinatownShow the scene
The last scene of Chinatown, 1974, set in 1937 Los Angeles. Private detective Jake Gittes has tried to save Evelyn Mulwray and her daughter Katherine from the wealthy Noah Cross, but the police open fire as Evelyn drives away and kill her, and Cross walks off with Katherine while the crowd gathers on the Chinatown street. Gittes is left stunned and is led away by his associates. One of them, Lawrence Walsh, gently tells him to forget it.
Sources (2)
- Wikipedia: Chinatown (1974 film)Plot, final paragraph; Production, LegacyReference checked
- Wikiquote: Chinatown (film)Quotes section, Lawrence WalshReference checked
Context reviewed