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Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
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Overview
User Rating:
Your Rating:
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Release Date:
23 December 2005 (USA)
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Plot:
Nitta Sayuri reveals how she transcended her fishing-village roots and became one of Japan's most celebrated geisha. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Won 3 Oscars.
Another 17 wins
&
28 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(91 articles)
Review: Sherlock Holmes and Nine – Massive fun and mediocre
(From t5m.com. 4 January 2010, 9:56 AM, PST)
A Good Year for Directors Who Aren’t Straight White Men
(From Collider.com. 30 December 2009, 11:07 PM, PST)
(From t5m.com. 4 January 2010, 9:56 AM, PST)
A Good Year for Directors Who Aren’t Straight White Men
(From Collider.com. 30 December 2009, 11:07 PM, PST)
User Reviews:
The best film I've seen all year, and I've seen some great films.
more (522 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Suzuka Ohgo | ... | Chiyo | |
| Togo Igawa | ... | Tanaka | |
| Mako | ... | Sakamoto | |
| Samantha Futerman | ... | Satsu | |
| Elizabeth Sung | ... | Sakamoto's Wife | |
| Thomas Ikeda | ... | Mr. Bekku | |
| Li Gong | ... | Hatsumomo (as Gong Li) | |
| Tsai Chin | ... | Auntie | |
| Kaori Momoi | ... | Mother | |
| Zoe Weizenbaum | ... | Young Pumpkin | |
| David Okihiro | ... | Shamisen Teacher | |
| Miyako Tachibana | ... | Dance Teacher | |
| Kotoko Kawamura | ... | Granny | |
| Karl Yune | ... | Koichi | |
| Eugenia Yuan | ... | Korin |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for mature subject matter and some sexual content.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
145 min | Philippines:140 min
Country:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Finland:K-11 |
UK:12A |
Australia:M |
Singapore:PG |
Ireland:12A |
Czech Republic:12 |
Sweden:7 |
Argentina:13 |
Hong Kong:IIA |
Germany:12 |
Netherlands:MG6 |
Malaysia:18PL |
Malaysia:U (cut version) |
Indonesia:Dewasa |
Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) |
Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) |
Brazil:14 |
Canada:G (Quebec) |
Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Canada Video Rating/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) |
Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) |
France:Unrated |
France:U |
Singapore:NC-16 (special edition DVD) |
Iceland:L |
Hungary:14 |
South Korea:15 |
USA:PG-13 (certificate #41007) |
China:(Banned)
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Goofs:
Continuity: When Mameha cuts Sayuri's leg, during the dialogue Sayuri has a red ribbon and a pink comb in her hair. The pink comb disappears and reappears throughout the shots.
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Quotes:
Mameha:
I'm wonder why Mrs. Nitta has not adopted Hatsumomo?
Sayuri Nitta: That would be like releasing the tiger from its cage.
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Sayuri Nitta: That would be like releasing the tiger from its cage.
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Vecinos: Presidente de la Manzana (#2.4)" (2007)
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Soundtrack:
Three Little Sisters
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FAQ
What became of Sayuri's sister?What was that stuff being combed into Sayuri's hair?
A NOTE REGARDING SPOILERS
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more (522 total)
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This is the most unfairly maligned film of the year. Some critics took it upon themselves to be the defenders of Japanese culture (without fully researching their arguments) and, in the process, betrayed their own racism. "The film is inauthentic because the actresses do not wear matronly bouffants," one said. Riiiiiight. Matronly bouffants are a Western stereotype! But in any case, some of them do and some don't! THAT'S authenticity. I guess critics wouldn't know that writing reviews without seeing the film or walking out long before it's over (some, such as Jeff Wells, do).
Anyway, it's a fantastic film and more than deserving of multiple Academy award nominations - which it may not get thanks to the fact that so many people decided they wanted to use the film as the sacrificial lamb for a half-baked debate about international politics, rather consider that pan-Asian casting for major roles is NOTHING new (it's true of House of Flying Daggers, The Joy Luck Club and even Crouching Tiger) and that this film's production might represent international cooperation at its best.
Look out for Gong Li and Youki Kudoh in RICHLY developed supporting roles. The supporting males, while obviously not as well developed since they spend less time in the geisha quarters, still give incredible performances. Ken Watanabe was excellent, but I particularly enjoyed the performance of the actor playing Nobu. Oprah is right about the sets and costumes; they (amongst other things) make you want to savor every moment of the film. Some people have argued that the brilliant colors make it seem like some sort of Orientalist fantasy. Truth is that this would only be the case if we saw a departure from a more sedate West to a flamboyant East; instead, the film opens in a rather sedate part of Japan and then takes us to the more colorful geisha district (which introduces this fascinating paradox of great suffering in a milieu of tremendous beauty). We know from Chicago that it's simply Rob Marshall's aesthetic to make everything the height of beauty, even if it's a slum. God forbid ENTERTAINMENT CIRCLES should be presented as visually spectacular! The film is by turns funny, moving and, yes, thrilling. Gasps in the audience for the film's third act gave way to sniffles. Ziyi Zhang really managed any language difficulties well; her face has this ripple effect when she's emoting. It's stunning to behold. If I were voting for the Oscars, I'd definitely give her a nomination at the very least. And homegirl can dance, too! Her performance and the film itself are not boring at all; audience members laughed when she was trying to be funny and sighed when she was suffering. IMO, too much happens in the film for it to get boring; there's a strong balance between the rivalries, the details about geisha entertainment and the romance. In the final scene, it all comes full circle. I won't tell you how. See for yourself.
My #1 film of the year. Brokeback Mountain, Chronicles of Narnia, Howl's Moving Castle, King Kong and Grizzly Man aren't far behind.