Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
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A young girl sold into a geisha house must navigate the hardships of a changing world to find her place in a prestigious society.
The story
In 1929, Chiyo Sakamoto and her sister Satsu are sold by their impoverished family to a geisha house in Kyoto. Chiyo is taken in by Kayoko Nitta, known as 'Mother', to train as a geisha under the pseudonym 'Sayuri Nitta'. The film explores the sacrifices and hardships faced by geisha in the pre-World War II era, as they navigate the challenges posed by a modernizing world. Amidst the rigorous training and the internal politics of the geisha house, Chiyo must endure the harsh realities of her new life while striving to achieve success in a traditional yet evolving society.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1929, Chiyo Sakamoto and her sister Satsu are sold by their poor father; Chiyo is taken by 'Mother' to become a geisha, while Satsu is sent to a brothel. Chiyo undergoes grueling training under the mentorship of Mameha after being mistreated by the jealous Hatsumomo. She eventually becomes 'Sayuri' and gains fame, leading to a high-stakes bidding war for her deflowering ceremony. Her career is interrupted by World War II, during which she is moved to the countryside. After the war, she works with Mameha and Pumpkin to help a businessman, Nobu, impress an American officer. In a final twist, she discovers that the chairman, whom she had long admired, was the one who truly supported her career and shared her feelings. The film concludes with Sayuri and the chairman finally acknowledging their love for one another.
- First release year
- 2005
- Runtime (minutes)
- 145
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Rob Marshall
- Writers
- Robin Swicord · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Zhang Ziyi · Chiyo Sakamoto/Sayuri Nitta; Ken Watanabe · Chairman Ken Iwamura; Michelle Yeoh · Mameha; Kōji Yakusho · Nobu; Youki Kudoh · Pumpkin; Kaori Momoi · Kayoko "Mother" Nitta; Gong Li · Hatsumomo
- Genres
- epic period drama; historical drama
- Themes
- Sacrifice; Tradition vs. Modernity; Identity
- Tone and mood
- Epic; Aesthetic
- Premise and plot tags
- Period Piece; Historical Romance; Cultural Conflict
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1997 novel of the same name by Arthur Golden
- Content notes
- Nudity; Prostitution
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from Western critics, with praise for its visuals, score, and acting, but criticism regarding its casting and 'style over substance' approach. It was more poorly received in China and Japan due to cultural sensitivities.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 35% · scale: percentage · review count: 164; Metacritic · score: 54 · scale: 100 · review count: 38; CinemaScore · score: B+ · scale: A to F
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Cinematography · Won; Academy Award · Best Art Direction · Won; Academy Award · Best Costume Design · Won; Golden Globe Award · Best Original Score · Won; National Board of Review · Best Supporting Actress · Won
- Production trivia
- The production was split between California and locations in Kyoto.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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