Memoirs Of A Geisha

Directed by Rob Marshall; written by Robin Swicord, based on the novel by Arthur Golden; director of photography, Dione Beebe; edited by Pietro Scalia; music by John Williams, with cello solos by Yo-Yo Ma and violin solos by Itzhak Perlman; production designer, John Myhre; produced by Lucy Fisher, Douglas Wick and Steven Spielberg; released by Columbia Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures and Spyglass
WITH: Ziyi Zhang (Sayuri), Ken Watanabe (Chairman), Michelle Yeoh (Mameha), Koji Yakusho (Nobu), Youki Kudoh (Pumpkin), Kaori Momoi (Mother), Tsai Chin (Auntie), Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (The Baron), Suzuka Ohgo (Chiyo) and Gong Li (Hatsumomo).
Genre: Drama | Romance
Awards: Won 3 Oscars. Release Date: 23 December 2005 (USA)
The movie is very interesting, we can observe each detail of Japan's culture, the sets are authentic and very beautiful when you're watching the movie transports you to this wonderful world, I believe the movie is very similar to the written work , And the opinions of those who have already read the book, is that in the movie you can see every detail of what the writer write, for this reason the film is so interesting.
The story focuses on a young nine year old girl, Chiyo, lives in a rather poor fishing village, Yoroido, on Japan's coast. Along with her older sister, Satsu, she is sent to the geisha (Japanese for artisan) district called Gion. Split from the only family she has left Chiyo is sent to the Nitta Okiya while her sister is transported else where and becomes less of a role. And Okiya is a house (sort of a compound) where a geisha lives and is taken care of. Here at the Nitta Okiya Chiyo meets another girl about her age nicknamed Pumpkin. Together Pumpkin and Chiyo struggle through the daily life of being treated as nothing more than slaves to the resident geisha, Hatsumomo. Hatsumomo, the story's resident villain, tries her hardest to make Chiyo's life as miserable as possible. On one particular occasion Chiyo feeling so

depressed collapses on a bridge in tears over her life's woes. Much to her surprise a high society passer by stops to question why she is so sad. Here little Chiyo
meets The Chairman for the first time. He shows her kindness in a world which has been naught but cruel to her and from that point on Chiyo makes it her goal to break free from the social class she was born into and become a geisha worthy of The Chairman. After much work and hardship Chiyo is allowed to attend school where young girls are taught all the important practices associated with the life of a geisha. She learns tea ceremony, how to play the shamisen (like a little banjo or acoustic guitar), as well as quite possibly the most important act, how to dance. The word geisha in Japanese is derived from a term referring to art so a geisha is like an artisan, or an artist. After some more altercations with Hatsumomo, Chiyo is taken under the wing of one of Gion's most popular geisha, Mameha. Mameha also happens to be Hatsumomo's arch-rival as a geisha. Mameha takes a long time to introduce Chiyo as her apprentice however once she does she is already blessed with fame for being associated with someone of Mameha's class. Here is the part of the story where Chiyo's name changes to Sayuri (her geisha name). Mameha introduces Sayuri is many numerous figures in Gion life and it come to a point where men are fighting for the highest bid on Sayuri's mizuage. All this time Sayuri is struggling with the common life lessons learned when one is growing up into a young woman. It is very much a coming of age story. Through all trials of adversity Sayuri faces her one goal is always to see The Chairman again. Finally the day comes when she is invited, along with Mameha, to a party at a teahouse at which The Chairman is attending. For the next couple of weeks she attends multiple parties which the chairman attend all the while seemingly coming closer to achieving her goal. Tension has been growing concerning World War II and the society in Gion is beginning to feel the effects of war. Rations are set up and many part of the giesha district have begun to close. Geisha are fleeing to other parts of the country hoping to avoid getting caught in an attack. Sayuri and all of her friends are split apart until after the war and once everyone returns to Gion it is realized the effects of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. All geisha who fled to these cities obviously died and it is a loss greatly felt by the community. Sayuri desperately attempts to attain the love of the Chairman and the climax of the story is whether or not she does meet her goal.
Memoirs of a Geisha was adapted from the novel of the same title by Arthur Golden, and based in part upon the life story of an actual geisha who ended up suing Golden for revealing her identity in the book. The producers called in some
big names to add weight to the film, including Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Doug White to co-write the script, and Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman for the soundtrack. The choice of Chinese actors to play geishas was controversial, and particularly galling to the Japanese. Director Marshall maintains that he cast the best candidates for key roles regardless of nationality or race.
The film opens with Chiyo (Suzuka Ohgo as a child, Ziyi Zhang as an adult) being taken from the small fishing village of Yoroido and sold to the proprietress of a Kyoto geisha house. At first, Chiyo's lone goal is to find her sister, Satsu, from whom she has been separated but, after a brief reunion, they are parted forever. Chiyo's plans to become a geisha - a "moving work of art" who sells her skills, not her body - are dashed when she runs afoul of Hatsumomo (Gong Li), the house's most consistent earner. For her infractions, she is denied the chance to attend the geisha school and must perform menial chores. But others see something in her. The Chairman (Ken Watanabe) recognizes her as a girl of amazing character and offers her a simple kindness. Chiyo vows to become a geisha and make him her patron. A celebrated geisha, Mameha (Michelle Yeoh), takes Chiyo under her wing. When Chiyo is ready to make her debut, she is given a "geisha name" - Sayuri - and introduced into society, where she must compete with Hatsumomo for the best clients.
I think film, it has excellent actors, good drama, excellent venues and captures the viewer, I would recommend this, it is appropriate to view much f of Japan's culture.

Sandra Patricia Cucaita.