Film Review - Memoirs of a Geisha

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

I read the book "Memoirs of a Geisha" just before the movie came out and I was reluctant to watch the movie because the book was so engrossing and satisfying that I was worried the movie might fall short. In all honesty, I felt that the movie did fall short in some ways but that it was so visually mesmerizing that it was worth watching. By far the best aspect of the movie was the fabulous costumes, scenery and cinematography. I also very much enjoyed seeing the cultivation of a geisha played out onscreen. For example, it was especially interesting to see the training and beauty rituals involved in being a geisha. In one scene, Sayuri is shown trying to sleep by resting her neck on a tiny platform so as not to mess up her hair and then accidentally rolling over in her sleep and ruining her intricate and painfully acquired hairdo. The costumes in the movie were stunning visually as was the scenery. The depiction of Sayuri's abusive and lonely childhood was heart-wrenching. The movie does provide a unique window into Japanese society at that time.

However, the use of heavily accented English in the film was an unfortunate choice on the part of the director. Yes, it was nice not to have to read subtitles, but the overall effect served to weaken the viewer's ability to suspend disbelief. We know Japanese don't speak English to each other in Japan. Although most of the actors gave good performances with the possible exception of an over-blown performance by the actress playing Hatsumomo, it is interesting that the director chose mostly Chinese actors to tell a uniquely Japanese story. I suspect the movie studios felt that American audiences would not know the difference between someone Chinese and someone Japanese and would think that all Asians look the same.

In conclusion, the move, "Memoirs of a Geisha", is definitely worth seeing because of its faithful depiction of the life and the making of a geisha, and its beautiful costumes and scenery. However, one should also read the book which is even more satisfying and richly detailed.

[Anonymous]

This movie reminded me of to a movie called "Dangerous Beauty" which takes place in Venice Italy write before the Spanish Inquistion, as well as during the Spanish Inquistion. The similarities were very intersting to me to see that two countries on opposite sides of teh world had very similar lifestyles. The gesihas in Asia and the courtesans of Venice were led to simialr decisons and similar lifestyles. The movies depict that both women basiclly had the choice of marrying usually into a loveless marriage or becoming high class prositutes. While prositutes in todays society are looked upon very lowly, many of these women choice this lifestyle for status, and more importantly as their way to survive and suppport themselves and tehir family. If a woman did not marry she really had no way of supporting herself, this was an easy way to live. Both countries made the life of a prostitute at least a little glamorized compared to those of today. They wore nice clothes, learned appropriate manners, and often were intelligent r talented, quite different than what we have today.

[Anonymous]

I read the book, and I was very reticent about doing so, as anything with the taint of Oprah's Book Club usually leaves me running for the hills. To my surprise, I found it an interesting light read. However, the movie was a major disappointment. The acting was so over-the-top, much of the dialogue was plodding and unimaginative, and the book was clearly superior. It is also interesting to note that the movie did not do well with the critics (for once, I agree with them).

[Anonymous]

I read the book and saw the movie Memoirs of a Geisha. I thought the movie did a good job of bringing to life the lively lifestlye that surrounds a Geisha such as life in the teahouse, dances, and music involved. However, I felt the movie did not do a good job with the development of the characters. The book did a much better job painting the complex life a geishas.

[Anonymous]

When the film was being made, there were some issues raised about hiring Chinese actresses to portray Japanese Geishas. Does anyone have any information concerning this? If so, I would appreciate it. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I read about the same issues of Chinese people portraying Japanese too, but once they film was aired, I never heard about these again. Maybe they finally saw the film and actually liked it. Who knows.

[Anonymous]

I made an effort to see this movie even this late, with the aim in view of finding its usefulness in my Middle School curriculum for my special needs classroom population. Frankly, I still am confused on the technical definition of "Geisha," which teeters between the brinks of a professional Japanese woman entertainer and a prostitute. The movie, sadly though, did not help me clarify this confusion. I can pick up the rich cultural part on the geisha traditions. Still, it might not be a good material for my classroom audience, especially, when it comes to the part where a geisha is trained to become a professional entertainer at a very young and tender age that borders on child abuse, physically and otherwise when set against the US social mores.
Significantly for me though, after getting a very interesting lesson from Prof. Ye, I share some questions raised in some of the posted threads on why the makers of the Memoirs of a Geisha cast Chinese actresses to play the leading Japanese geishas. I liked the costumes and the development of the characters. However, I have not read the book, so I cannot make a comparison on the area of character development in this movie. Still, I would likely skip this material for my special needs class.

[Anonymous]

I read the book Memoirs of a Geisha about eight years ago when the novel first came out. So when the movie version came out I could not wait to see it. I do think the movie was very true to the book. Also about eight years ago, I took a course studying Japanese culture. I understood a geisha to be more like a kept woman. She had to find ( I think it was called) a Dana to take care of her. The dana would be the "mother" of the geisha house a signifcant amount of money for that particular geisha. Then the geisha would only be with that dana. So, a geisha was much more classy than a prostitue. She was more of an artist who only slept with her dana or a man who paid highly for her time.

[Anonymous]

I feel that the movie and the book catered to the Western palate for an "exotic." I enjoyed the book and movie and purely fictionalized accounts very loosely based on some reality.

I much more enjoyed reading the book written in response to Memoirs.

So long as there is the hunger for something ( mysterious, exotic, eroticized Asia ) there will be something to sell the world.

[Author]

Posts