Essays on Chinatown

For some, it may be a symbol of the rich culture and history of Chinese-Americans. For others, it may be a symbol of the challenges and struggles that Chinese-Americans have faced in the past and continue to face today.

There are various theories and stories surrounding its origin. One popular theory is that the term originated from the Cantonese word for factory" or "workshop" (唐人街, tongren jie), which was used to describe the first Chinese enclave in San Francisco, which was located near a waterfront area where ships docked. Another theory suggests that the name may have come from the fact that many of the early Chinese immigrants who came to San Francisco were from the Guangdong province in China, which was formerly known as Canton."

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 real-life California Water Wars, a series of disputes over water rights in the Los Angeles area in the early 20th century.The film's central character, private investigator Jake Gittes (Nicholson), is hired by Evelyn Mulwray (Dunaway) when she suspects her husband, Hollis Mulwray (Dennis Dunn), is having an affair. Gittes tails him and discovers he is indeed cheating, but with a much younger woman, Ida Sessions (Belinda Palmer). Mulwray becomes angry when he learns of Gittes' investigation, and, after confronting him, storms off. The next day, Mulwray is found dead, and Sessions disappears.Gittes is stunned when he is informed that Mulwray's death was not an accident, but murder. He is further shocked to learn that Hollis Mulwray was not Evelyn's husband, but her father. Evelyn tells Gittes that her real name is Katherine, and that she and her sister, Crosbie (Dunaway), were the children of Hollis and Katherine Mulwray. Crosbie drowned when she was a child, and Hollis Mulwray raised Katherine as his own daughter.Katherine explains that Hollis Mulwray was the head engineer for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and was in charge of building the city's new water system. She believes he was killed because he was getting close to uncovering a conspiracy to steal water from the Owens Valley, east of Los Angeles.Gittes begins investigating Mulwray's death, and discovers that Hollis Mulwray was indeed killed because he knew too much about the water theft conspiracy. He also learns that Evelyn's father, Noah Cross (John Huston), is one of the conspirators.Gittes confronts Cross, who admits his involvement in the water theft, but insists that Hollis Mulwray's death was an accident. He also reveals that Evelyn Mulwray is his daughter, which shocks Gittes.Evelyn Mulwray confronts her father, and he admits that he ordered Hollis Mulwray's death. She then shoots him, and Gittes takes her away.The film ends with Gittes and Evelyn Mulwray driving away from Los Angeles, leaving Chinatown behind them.