05/30/06 Memoirs Of A Geisha

Memoirs Of A Geisha (2005), directed by Rob Marshall

watched w/ Leslie; DVD rental (Netflix) @ home

I liked this one very much for all the forecasted reasons that everyone this past year at the Oscars liked this movie...visually stunning cinematography, set design, and make-up adherent to the world of geisha houses in pre-World War II Japan; a beautiful score set amongst the purposeful landscape; and strong lead acting roles by the main characters of the film. In reading critical reviews of the film however, I was interested to see that the director chose some famous Chinese actresses (namely Ziyi Zhang and Li Gong) to play important roles in this sweepingly Japanese production. I can never claim to be perceptive enough to differentiate between certain customs/differences of both China & Japan (having never lived there), but I think that all those critiques are rendered moot by the simple fact that all the actors in the film speak English. As if any of us really believe that's how they spoke in their native lands! Is it just me, or is this attempt so over-played in cinema, just to cater (obviously) to the public for which it is geared towards siphoning money out of their pockets? To me, a truly foreign film should stand true in its language, and let us "dumb" Americans learn to deal with subtitles. Now, off the soapbox, because I truly did enjoy this film. It's a mesmerizing, yet tragic tale of a young Japanese girl from a small fishing village who is taken away from her ailing parents and sold to a geisha house and separated from her sister. Upon a failed attempt to escape from the harsh city of Kyoto, she is forever taken from her sibling and banished to live out her days in the geisha society as a servant. The young girl (Chiyo) is tormented by an "evil stepsister" type (Hatsumomo), who is threatened by the fact that rival geisha mother Mameha has taken Chiyo under her wing to become the graceful geisha Sayuri. Once a poor servant girl, Chiyo had run across the sweetness of a dignified Chairman whom she fell madly in love with. Now, blossomed as a fine geisha, Sayuri hopes to win the heart of the man she loves. Of course, with a war looming, evil stepsisters scheming, and constant suitors in a bidding war over her prized virginity...it's a bit tough to find happiness. There in lies the rub. A captivating tale of history and cultural significance, but played into the hands of a tragic romance for the film treatment.

4 out of 5 stars