Memoirs Of A Geisha

By: The Dweeb

April 2006

DVD Features Video: 2.40:1 Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1 11 Behind the Scenes Featurettes: The Look of a Geisha The Music of the Film Geisha Bootcamp A Geisha’s Dance Director Rob Marshall and co-producer John DeLuca Audio Commentary Production Audio Commentary (Costume Designer, Production Designer, Editor) Theatrical release: 12/09/2005 DVD released on 3/28/2006 by Sony Pictures Running time of 145 minutes Starring: Gong Li, Ken Watanabe, Michelle Yeoh, Ziyi Zhang Director: Rob Marshall Plot: In 1929 an impoverished nine-year-old named Chiyo from a fishing village is sold to a geisha house in Kyoto’s Gion district and subjected to cruel treatment from the owners and the head geisha Hatsumomo. Her stunning beauty attracts the vindictive jealousy of Hatsumomo, until she is rescued by and taken under the wing of Hatsumomo’s bitter rival, Mameha. Under Mameha’s mentorship, Chiyo becomes the geisha named Sayuri, trained in all the artistic and social skills a geisha must master in order to survive in her society. As a renowned geisha she enters a society of wealth, privilege, and political intrigue. As World War II looms Japan and the geisha’s world are forever changed by the onslaught of history.

Memoirs of a Geisha is every bit as beautiful a film that you can imagine when hearing the name, Rob Marshall creates a masterpiece companion film to the best seller book of the same name. Rich in story, imagery and emotion the film is as astounding in every detail like the petals of a rose. For those of you with the preconceived notion of what a Geisha is, prepare to have the curtain pulled back and take a glimpse into this hidden corner of Japanese culture and be surprised. Geisha is a powerful film about the testament to a woman’s will and desire to love. Here is the irony. Memoirs of a Geisha was written by a white American man, and the film was a completely American production from start to finish. How could this film have any credibility?

Well, I suppose it helps to have a woman as a screenwriter adapt the story and Rob has an eye for pageantry (Chicago is his previous project). The beauty is in the meticulous attention to the tiny details from the costumes to the massive sets used for the town. Watching this film, the colors just spring out at you in certain scenes. This is cinematography at its finest, and no surprise that it scooped up a few Oscars for it this year. Maybe the only complaint for this movie was to have filmed it in Japanese instead of ‘Engrish’, although I know that is not a popular option. People hate subtitles.

Becoming a Geisha is hard work. First you get sold off by your dad to some strange man, then separated from your sister. Then, after many years of hard manual labor and chores around your new home, you spend another decade training to become one. Forget the boyfriend too, that’s not in the job description. Then once you finally graduate from Geisha school, you have to compete with the others ones to find a suitor that will give you lots of dough, while trying to stifle your desire for another man. Sounds like fun.

What is a Geisha then anyway? Well, most people think they are a fancy prostitute, and as Sayuri (Ziyi Zhang) finds out, no they are just expensive female companions/entertainers to rich men who hate their wives. You have to dress for the occasion and be able to sing, dance and play an instrument all while pretending to be interested in the man talking to you. Hey, sounds almost like a strip club! Mameha (Michelle Yeoh) sums it up best, “We sell our skills, not our bodies. We create another secret world, a place only of beauty. The very word “geisha” means artist and to be a geisha is to be judged as a moving work of art. ”

The casting in the film, although it was controversial, works for me. Ziyi Zhang and company pull in excellent performances, even though English, or in some cases Japanese is not their native language they do a convincing job. It is a complicated film story wise and Rob Marshall does his best to bring out the necessary elements from these actors to convey the ideas that are in the book. Gong Li stood out especially as the fiery rival Hatsumomo, literally and figuratively. The male half of the cast of course doesn’t get as much screen time, but whenever Ken Wantanabe makes an appearance he just lights it up as well.

As I said before, the cinematography is breathtaking, the colors in some scenes seem to bleed right into the living room. The DVD format was made to display film like this. Even if you don’t like the movie, you can’t deny the camera work is awesome. Coupled with a score by John Williams you just can’t go wrong. This 2 disc edition comes with all kinds of goodies to enhance the Geisha experience. Much of it examines in length the different aspects of the film process. Its a shame they do not go in depth about actual modern day Geishas, or provide much in terms of historical material. I would find that fascinating. There is an odd section with Chef Nobu, who only has a cameo in the film. They spend quite a bit of time talking about food and has an impromptu cooking class. Thought that was a bit out of place as it had nothing to do with the movie. Ah well. Aside from that, still an excellent disc.

I have very few complaints about this film, I thought it was an excellent historical epic love story. I just can’t emphasize enough that this was one of the most beautifully shot films from last year, if not the best as the Oscar win has shown.

Reviewer’s Opinion: RENT IT!!