Hi Becky,

Thanks for posting your evaluation. I'm not sure that the disclaimer is necessary. Please post it in the film festival thread of the Asia in My Classroom forum (please don't create a new thread, just go to the film festival thread and click on the post reply button). Put "Review: Memoir of a Geisha" in the subject line and please copy the text into the message area. I'm sure that many teachers will be interested in your comments. You'll see that many teachers have been talking about the book and film in that forum.

After I saw the movie I reflected on how I might use it in my classroom. The scenery of Japan gave a feeling for the mountains, sea and forerst that dot the islands. The city life protrayed was interesting. I just kept wondering how historically correct it all was. After I watched the movie I did some research on the geisha. It was one way for a woman to gain stature in the very heirarchial society although she could never marry. Some of the scenes depicting the young woman learning to dance and play a musical instrument might be interesting to show. The landscapes especially the cherry blossoms were beautiful. Only small clips would really be appropriate for junior high. I would like to know people's opinions on just how historically accurate the fim was or was it just a Hollywood image of the life of a geisha? I did enjoy the film and enjoyed the book even more!

I considered a few "asian" films I've seen to review: The Twilight Samurai, Sayonara w/ Marlon Brando, The Red Bridge, Shall we Dance, the Picture Bride, Princess Mononoke, and a few more. But, I settled on Miyazake's Spirited Away.

I've shown it in class 3 years in a row, so I've seen it about 18 times. I've found it's a great movie to introduce a bit of Asian (in this case Japanese) culture into a classroom. As I said in another post, I show this movie in conjuction with teaching a small section on japanese writing.

The movie is of a girl and her family who accidentally end up in a type of ghost world centered around a Bath House. The Bath House is for spirits and is run by an "evil" witch. Miyazake's stuff usually has an environmental factor. This movie is no different. One of the spirits who visits the bath house is River God who is so polluted he must cleanse himself in the bath house. There is another River "god" who is now lost because his river has been filled in for a housing development. My favorite is the Daikon Radish. Kao Nashi - or No Face - is also a good character. I prefer him at the beginning and the end - not the middle.

I've found it pleases all from freshmen to seniors. The freshmen enjoy the cartoon aspects of it while the seniors enjoy it the way adults enjoy Alice in Wonderland. Wondering what types of tea the makers of the movie had been drinking.

I've shown it both in English and in Japanese with English subtititles. Both have been met with success. Once I tried to show 1/2 in English and 1/2 in Japanese. That was met with resistance.

Enjoy (a)

[Edit by="abroughton on Jan 13, 2:22:55 PM"][/Edit]

Hi Alex,

Thanks for bringing up Spirited Away. It's a useful resource. Let's move the film discussion to the "film festival" thread in the Asia in My Classroom forum.

When I read Geisha I literally could not put the novel down. I borrowed the book from a friend and returned it less than forty eight hours later. Being such a fan of the book, I was tentative when I went to see the film. In past experience films made from books have been, to me, not quite as good as the book. The movie Memoirs was impressive. It focused on the story of the people rather than the life of a Geisha. In the book, there were detailed descriptions of what actually took place at tea houses, what Kimono the Geisha's wore, the dances, the music, etc. I was excited to see this part of the novel in movie form but was dissappointed that the film lacked some of the cultural "secrets" of Geisha life that I had been interested in. I saw in the bookstore another novel from a real Geisha, if anyone has read it (though I can't remember what it is called) I was wondering if it was worth the read!

I don't know if it has any historical accuracy, but great choreagraphy, costumes, and sets!! Probably rated R for violence and sex, but some parts could be used in class. Similar to Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. 😐

Well, this may not be a movie you'd show to any class younger than high school seniors.. and that's only if you're doing a unit on Asian symbolism, film, suspense, or story-telling in general.... BUT... I just finished watching :

A Tale of Two Sisters (Janghwa, Hongryeon)

IMDB writeup: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0365376/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnx0dD0xfGZiPXV8cG49MHxrdz0xfHE9dGFsZSBvZiB0d28gc2lzdGVyc3xmdD0xfG14PTIwfGxtPTUwMHxjbz0xfGh0bWw9MXxubT0x;fc=2;ft=22;fm=1

and it was very well done. Perhaps, if you're a Hitchcock fan, like suspense, or appreciate the way contemporary Asians are filling the 35mm frame, you'd like to see the movie for yourself just for fun.

The development is rather slow, but that's true to Hitchcockian form. The enigmatic plot, good acting, and stunning visuals definitely keep your interest.

Apparently this film was made in South Korea, but they use a lot of the same visual symbolism as 'The Ring' which is Japanese.

Anyway, very interesting. If anyone else has seen it, would love to exchange thoughts.