A Love Novel Memoirs of A Geisha

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Designated for 6 Oscars, 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 wonderful job of evolving Arthur Golden’s bestselling novel to the big screen. This film has all the components of a classic drama jealousy, politics, intrigue, forbidden love, and an abundance of internal and external 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 incentives of its cast and build to a climax will discover an excellent gem which offers a welcome escape from fact.

Memoirs Of A Geisha is recounted from the viewpoint of a 9 years old Eastern girl named Chiyo [ Ziyi Zhang ]. Born into a poor fishing family, Chiyo and her sister are sold into slavery by their father. Chiyo is soon separated from her sister and reveals herself in a geisha house where her new master, Mother [ Kaori Momoi ], will determine her destiny. Though only nine years old, Chiyo sparks the anger 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 fantastic in her role as the vindictive, yet human, adversary, and her character manages to have Chiyo removed from geisha school and sentenced to the life of a standard slave. However, Chiyo’s life takes a turn for the better following an opportunity skirmish with The Chairman [ Ken Watanabe ]. Flanked by two geisha, The Chairman extends his kindness to Chiyo, prompting her to develop a lifetime crush and to fantasize of one day becoming a geisha herself. Chiyo’s wish comes true when a geisha from another house, Mameha [ Michelle Yeoh ], offers to personally teach her, setting up an unavoidable conflict between the 2 and Hatsumomo and her understudy. Meanwhile, the horrors of war and her lifetime pursuit of The CEO’s love burden Chiyo with additional hardships. Though some traditionalists and geisha experts might take issue with the portrayal of geishas in general, the film certainly offers a fascinating glance into a world and culture most US people will find intriguing. Despite its 2 hour and twenty five minute running time, Memoirs Of A Geisha is an entertaining film that appears much shorter in duration. Like most films evolved from a novel, those who liked the book will either love it or do not like it depending on how well they perceive the switch to the big-screen. But even people that hate it must admit that the costume and set design are exquisite and leave small room for improvement. At times, the cast speaks with heavy accents which can be confusing at moments, but overall, the scenes flow well from one to the next. With the exception of some Yankee actors near the conclusion [ Ted Levine of Monk fame plays a US armed forces Colonel ], the bulk of the cast is composed of Chinese and Japanese actors/actresses who are comparatively unknown to Yankee audiences though Ken Watanabe might be recognizable given contemporary roles in The Last Samurai [ 2003 ] and Batman Begins [ 2005 ]. The function 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 genus will completely enjoy.

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