By Peter de Kuster
Introduction: Truth, Power, and the Legend You Choose
Roman Polanski’s Chinatown is not just a noir classic—it’s a haunting meditation on power, corruption, and the cost of seeking truth in a world where the rules are rigged. Private detective Jake Gittes, hired for a simple adultery case, is drawn into a web of deceit, murder, and personal trauma that threatens to unravel him. For creative leaders, Chinatown is a powerful mirror: Are you authoring your own story, or letting others script your fate? In a world of shadows, will you dare to create your own legend?
Plot Summary: A Case That Changes Everything
Jake Gittes, a former cop turned private investigator in 1937 Los Angeles, is hired by a woman claiming to be Evelyn Mulwray to expose her husband’s alleged infidelity. When the real Evelyn appears, Jake realizes he’s been set up. Hollis Mulwray, the city’s water commissioner, is soon found dead, and Jake is pulled into a labyrinthine conspiracy involving water rights, land grabs, and the city’s future. As Jake digs deeper, he uncovers the monstrous truth about Evelyn’s father, Noah Cross, who orchestrates both the murder and a land scheme, and whose abuse has left Evelyn’s daughter Katherine both her child and her sister.
Jake tries to help Evelyn and Katherine escape, but in the chaos of Chinatown, the police shoot and kill Evelyn. Cross claims Katherine, and Jake is left devastated, reminded that justice can be elusive and that sometimes, the good guys lose. The film closes with the iconic line: “Forget it, Jake. It’s Chinatown.”
The Hero’s Journey in Chinatown
Reflections for Creative Leaders at Every Stage
| Stage | Film Moment | Reflection for Creative Leaders |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Ordinary World | Jake’s routine as a divorce PI, handling predictable cases | Where are you sticking to what you know, avoiding deeper risks or questions? |
| 2. Call to Adventure | Hired by “Evelyn Mulwray” for a seemingly simple case | What unexpected challenge or opportunity is calling you to step up? |
| 3. Refusal of the Call | Realizing he’s been set up, Jake considers backing off | When have you doubted your ability to make a difference or feared getting involved? |
| 4. Meeting the Mentor | The real Evelyn, and Jake’s own Chinatown past as a cautionary guide | Who or what reminds you of your values and why you started your journey? |
| 5. Crossing the Threshold | Jake investigates Hollis’s death, risking his safety and reputation | What leap into the unknown are you willing to take to pursue the truth? |
| 6. Tests, Allies, Enemies | Facing threats, betrayals, and the city’s corruption | Who supports you—and who stands in your way—as you pursue your mission? |
| 7. Approach to the Inmost Cave | Uncovering Cross’s crimes and the truth about Katherine | What dark truths or uncomfortable realities must you face to move forward? |
| 8. Ordeal | Arranging the escape, confronting Cross, and facing the police | When have you risked everything for what you believe is right, even when the odds were against you? |
| 9. Reward | Brief hope of saving Evelyn and Katherine | What small victories or moments of hope have you found in struggle? |
| 10. The Road Back | The plan unravels, police intervene, chaos erupts | How do you respond when your best efforts seem to fail? |
| 11. Resurrection | Evelyn is killed, Cross wins, Jake is shattered | How have your greatest challenges transformed your understanding of power, loss, and leadership? |
| 12. Return with the Elixir | “Forget it, Jake. It’s Chinatown”—a bitter lesson and hard-won wisdom | What cautionary tale or wisdom will you share with your community? |
Conclusion: Writing Your Legend in a Broken World
Chinatown is a story about the limits of agency and the cost of seeking truth in a corrupt world. Jake Gittes’s journey is both a warning and a challenge: Even when the system is stacked against you, your choices—and your story—still matter. As creative leaders, we must ask: Will we turn away from darkness, or will we keep searching for light, knowing the outcome is never guaranteed? The legend you write is not about winning, but about the courage to act.
Questions to Take Away After Watching Chinatown
- Where in your life are you being called to uncover uncomfortable truths?
- Who or what are the “Chinatowns”—the places of confusion or powerlessness—you must navigate?
- When have you risked everything for justice or integrity, even when the outcome was uncertain?
- What story do you want to tell about your response to adversity?
- How will you use your hard-won wisdom to guide and protect others?
Story Coaching Offer: Create Your Hero’s Journey with Peter de Kuster
Are you ready to navigate your own “Chinatown” and become the author of your legend? My story coaching is for:
- Creative professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders seeking clarity, purpose, and authentic impact
- Anyone confronting adversity, ready to turn struggle into wisdom and meaning
- Individuals inspired by stories and determined to become the author of their own life
Benefits of Story Coaching
- Discover your personal myth and core archetypes
- Reframe limiting beliefs and turn adversity into opportunity
- Gain clarity on your mission, legacy, and next creative chapter
- Develop practical strategies for authentic, impactful leadership
- Strengthen your storytelling skills to inspire and unite your team
Special Price for Readers
- Full Story Coaching Session (2 hours): €195 (excl. VAT)
- Express Session (1 hour): €120 (excl. VAT)
Contact: peter@wearesomeone.nl
You are the hero, the storyteller, and the legend in the making. The next chapter is yours to write.
The Power of Your Story 