Memoirs of A Geisha Movie

Nominated for six Academy Awards, and winner of 3, Memoirs Of A Geisha holds its own as one of the finest films of 2005. Veteran Hollywood screenwriter Robin Swicord does a superb job of adapting Arthur Golden's bestselling novel to the big screen. This film has all the elements of a classic drama envy, politics, intrigue, banned love, and a sufficiency of internal conflicts of varying types. Viewers in search of a typical Hollywood smash hit will be greatly disappointed, but people who appreciate a good character-driven film which takes the time to develop the motivations of its cast and build to a climax will discover a splendid gem which offers a welcome escape from fact. 

Memoirs Of A Geisha is narrated from the viewpoint of a nine year-old Japanese girl named Chiyo [ Ziyi Zhang ]. Born into a poor fishing family, Chiyo and her sister are sold into slavery by their pa. Chiyo is soon separated from her sister and reveals herself in a geisha house where her new master, Ma [ Kaori Momoi ], will identify her destiny. Though only nine years of age, Chiyo sparks the ire of the much older Hatsumomo [ Li Gong ], the most celebrated geisha of the house, who accurately perceives Chiyo as a fitting rival. 

Li Gong is glorious in her role as the vindictive, yet human, adversary, and her personality manages to have Chiyo removed from geisha faculty and condemned to the life of a common slave. However, Chiyo's life takes a turn for the better following a chance encounter with The Chairman [ Ken Watanabe ]. Flanked by 2 geisha, The Chairman extends his kindness to Chiyo, prompting her to develop a lifetime crush and to dream of one day changing into a geisha herself. Chiyo’s wish comes true when a geisha from another house, Mameha [ Michelle Yeoh ], offers to personally train her, setting up an unavoidable conflict between the 2 and Hatsumomo and her understudy. In the horrors of war and her lifelong pursuit of The CEO's love burden Chiyo with additional hardships. 

Although some traditionalists and geisha mavens might take issue with the portrayal of geishas usually, the film certainly offers a fascinating glance into a world and culture most US people will find interesting. Regardless of its 2 hour and twenty five minute running time, Memoirs Of A Geisha is an entertaining film that seems much shorter in duration. Like most films adapted from a novel, those who enjoyed the book will either love it or detest it depending on how well they understand the switch to the big-screen. But even those who hate it must admit the costume and set design are delightful and leave small room for improvement. At times, the cast speaks with heavy accents which can be confusing at moments, but generally, the scenes flow well from one to the following. With the exception of some American actors close to the conclusion [ Ted Levine of Monk celebrity plays a US armed forces Colonel ], the bulk of the cast is composed of Chinese and Japanese actors/actresses who are comparatively unknown to American audiences though Ken Watanabe could be recognizable given fresh roles in The Last Samurai [ 2003 ] and Batman Starts [ 2005 ]. The employment of this cast helps focus audience attention on the merits of the film itself and not on a cast of stars, and this helps, rather than obstructs, the film. As such, Memoirs Of A Geisha is a film most fans of the brand will completely enjoy.

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