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Memoirs of a Geisha

  • 20052005
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 25m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
147K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,553
187
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Ziyi Zhang in Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
Trailer 1
Play trailer2:34
4 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Drama
  • Romance

Nitta Sayuri reveals how she transcended her fishing-village roots and became one of Japan's most celebrated geisha.Nitta Sayuri reveals how she transcended her fishing-village roots and became one of Japan's most celebrated geisha.Nitta Sayuri reveals how she transcended her fishing-village roots and became one of Japan's most celebrated geisha.

IMDb RATING
7.3/10
147K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,553
187
  • Director
    • Rob Marshall
  • Writers
    • Robin Swicord(screenplay)
    • Arthur Golden(book)
  • Stars
    • Ziyi Zhang
    • Ken Watanabe
    • Michelle Yeoh
Top credits
  • Director
    • Rob Marshall
  • Writers
    • Robin Swicord(screenplay)
    • Arthur Golden(book)
  • Stars
    • Ziyi Zhang
    • Ken Watanabe
    • Michelle Yeoh
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 637User reviews
    • 212Critic reviews
    • 54Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 3 Oscars
      • 32 wins & 47 nominations total

    Videos4

    Memoirs of a Geisha
    Trailer 2:34
    Memoirs of a Geisha
    Memoirs of a Geisha
    Trailer 2:28
    Memoirs of a Geisha
    Memoirs of a Geisha
    Clip 0:56
    Memoirs of a Geisha
    Memoirs of a Geisha
    Clip 1:09
    Memoirs of a Geisha

    Photos204

    Gong Li, Tsai Chin, and Kaori Momoi in Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
    Rob Marshall, Ken Watanabe, and Ziyi Zhang in Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
    Ken Watanabe in Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
    Ziyi Zhang in Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
    Suzuka Ohgo in Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
    Ken Watanabe and Ziyi Zhang in Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
    Yûki Kudô in Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
    Rob Marshall and Ziyi Zhang in Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
    Gong Li, Michelle Yeoh, and Ziyi Zhang in Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
    Gong Li and Suzuka Ohgo in Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
    Gong Li, Kaori Momoi, and Ziyi Zhang in Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
    Michelle Yeoh, Rob Marshall, and Ziyi Zhang in Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ziyi Zhang
    Ziyi Zhang
    • Sayurias Sayuri
    Ken Watanabe
    Ken Watanabe
    • Chairmanas Chairman
    Michelle Yeoh
    Michelle Yeoh
    • Mamehaas Mameha
    Suzuka Ohgo
    Suzuka Ohgo
    • Chiyoas Chiyo
    Togo Igawa
    Togo Igawa
    • Tanakaas Tanaka
    Mako
    Mako
    • Sakamotoas Sakamoto
    Samantha Futerman
    Samantha Futerman
    • Satsuas Satsu
    Elizabeth Sung
    Elizabeth Sung
    • Sakamoto's Wifeas Sakamoto's Wife
    Thomas Ikeda
    • Mr. Bekkuas Mr. Bekku
    Gong Li
    Gong Li
    • Hatsumomoas Hatsumomo
    Tsai Chin
    Tsai Chin
    • Auntieas Auntie
    Kaori Momoi
    Kaori Momoi
    • Motheras Mother
    Zoe Weizenbaum
    Zoe Weizenbaum
    • Young Pumpkinas Young Pumpkin
    David Okihiro
    • Shamisen Teacheras Shamisen Teacher
    Miyako Tachibana
    • Dance Teacheras Dance Teacher
    Kotoko Kawamura
    • Grannyas Granny
    Karl Yune
    Karl Yune
    • Koichias Koichi
    Eugenia Yuan
    Eugenia Yuan
    • Korinas Korin
    • Director
      • Rob Marshall
    • Writers
      • Robin Swicord(screenplay)
      • Arthur Golden(book)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    In the 1920s, 9-year-old Chiyo gets sold to a geisha house. There, she is forced into servitude, receiving nothing in return until the house's ruling hierarchy determines if she is of high enough quality to service the clientele -- men who visit and pay for conversation, dance and song. After rigorous years of training, Chiyo becomes Sayuri, a geisha of incredible beauty and influence. Life is good for Sayuri, but World War II is about to disrupt the peace. —Jwelch5742
    • geisha
    • japan
    • female protagonist
    • period drama
    • jealousy
    • 60 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • My world is as forbidden as it is fragile; without its mysteries, it cannot survive.
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Romance
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG-13 for mature subject matter and some sexual content
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      John Williams passed on scoring the fourth Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) in favor of scoring this film.
    • Goofs
      When Hatsumomo and Pumpkin are leaving on the night of Pumpkin's debut, neither Mother nor Auntie spark flint on their backs. A Geisha would never leave her okiya without this act being performed as it was believed it brought good luck.
    • Quotes

      Sayuri Narration: The heart dies a slow death. Shedding each hope like leaves, until one day there are none. No hopes. Nothing remains.

    • Crazy credits
      No studio logos are shown at the beginning. They however appear shortened after the end credits and are accompanied by the film's score.
    • Connections
      Featured in The 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards 2006 (2006)
    • Soundtracks
      Anata No Mono Yo
      Written by Takao Saeki and Kouka Sassa

      Performed by Noriko Awaya

      Courtesy of Columbia Music Entertainment, Inc.

    User reviews637

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Rivalries
    Arthur Golden's novel "Memoirs of a Geisha" deserved a better fate. This immensely satisfying book got a tepid adaptation by Robin Swicord and Doug Wright, and it begs for a better screen play than what was chosen to be shown on the screen. Director Bob Marshall's next venture after his successful and popular "Chicago" seemed, at least on paper, like the right candidate to be in command of the film version of the book, but what he has created seems to have become an oriental soap opera, at best.

    The story is narrated in the first person by Sayuri who has been sold by their impoverished father. The novel is a chronicle of how Sayuri learns to become a geisha and her rivalry with the queen of them all, Hatsumomo. Also it is about the relationship between Suyuri and the Chairman. Hatsumomo's competition is the beautiful Mameha, who takes Suyuri under her wing and shows her the ropes. The Chairman and Nobu are the men in and out of this story who change Suyuri's life for the best.

    The casting of Ziyi Zhang as Suyuri doesn't pay off. Ms. Zhang is a beautiful creature to look at, but in this film, her acting appears to be empty, in sharp contrast with her appearance in "2046". Gong Li, another beautiful woman, appears in all her fury to challenge her position as the queen that she has always been when Sayuri comes on her own. She is a caricature of the character that she is trying to portray, no doubt guided by the director, in a performance that seems campy in its flavor. Michelle Yeoh, Ken Watanabe and Koji Yakusho do what they can in a film where the center of attraction are Ms. Zhang and Ms. Li.

    The basic flaw of the film is the dialogue that feels so foreign it might have been written in another language. The different accents of the cast doesn't help matters because they speak in a sort of British English that is a distraction. The wonderful costumes are by Colleen Atwood who dresses the women in silks and makes them look fantastic. The cinematography of Dion Beebe is an asset too. The haunting musical score is by John Williams, a man who knows how to enhance a film with the right sounds.

    "Memoirs of a Geisha" under the direction of Rob Marshall is a spectacle directed to fans of the book, who will surely flock to see the film, but alas, they will not find the essence of Mr. Golden's novel in the finished product.
    helpful•117
    108
    • jotix100
    • Dec 10, 2005

    FAQ9

    • Is 'Memoirs of a Geisha' based on a book?
    • What was the significance of the handkerchief?
    • What was the white stuff that the geishas had to sleep on?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 23, 2005 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • Japan
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Sony Pictures (United States)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Hồi Ức Của Một Geisha
    • Filming locations
      • California State Railroad Museum - 111 I Street, Sacramento, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures
      • Dreamworks Pictures
      • Spyglass Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $85,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $57,490,508
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $682,504
      • Dec 11, 2005
    • Gross worldwide
      • $162,242,962
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 25 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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