Memoirs of a Geisha

2005

Action / Drama / Romance

81
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Rotten 83% · 165 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 83% · 250K ratings
IMDb Rating 7.3/10 10 171022 171K

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Plot summary

In the years before World War II, a penniless Japanese child is torn from her family to work as a maid in a geisha house.

Director

Rob Marshall Photo
Rob Marshall

Top cast

Cathy Shim Photo
Cathy Shim as The Baron's Guest
Laura Miro Photo
Laura Miro as Yukimoto Teahouse Geisha / Spring Festival Dancer
Steve Terada Photo
Steve Terada as Boy on Bike
Elizabeth Sung Photo
Elizabeth Sung as Sakamoto's Wife
720p.BluRay 1080p.BluRay
1.00 GB
1280*720
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
2 hr 25 min
Seeds 7
2.00 GB
1920*1080
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
2 hr 25 min
Seeds ...

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by Calicodreamin 8 / 10

A great film that is true to the book

As someone who read the book before watching the movie, I was pleased with the adaptation. The right parts were highlighted and felt the cuts made were necessary for length. The story is truly a tragically beautiful one, and the actors cast fit their characters. Great acting and some beautiful cinematography. Sayuri's dance scene was mesmerizing.
Reviewed by gradyharp 8 / 10

A Visually and Musically Stunning Film

Why there is so much polarity with the audiences of Rob Marshall's cinematic adaptation of Arthur Golden's exquisite novel MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA is puzzling. Even in the theater there were those who left halfway through - reason unknown. Despite disagreements on the casting techniques and on the emphasis changes between the book and the film, MEMOIRS remains one of the most visually arresting, genteel films of the year. That it comes across as somewhat of an epic soap opera is no one's fault but the writers. And what is so wrong with an old-fashioned soap opera of a story afterall? The opening scene of the turbulent sea and heavy rain that accompany the silent selling of two poor sisters to a merchant planning to place the girls in houses in Osaka gives an indication of the importance of water in this story. The sisters are delivered to a house of geishas and only one is selected by the hard madam. Through years of suffering and anguish the chosen one becomes a geisha, finds comfort from her childhood of poverty, gains loving mentoring by a top geisha, becomes the most sought after geisha in Osaka, finds her love, endures WW II and eventually returns to her dreams. The interplay between the girl and the various members of the geisha training and bartering complex add flavor and conflict that keep the story flowing.The three principal actresses - Ziyi Zhang, Michelle Yeoh, and Gong Li carry the film well. The large cast includes favorite actors Ken Watanabe and Mako. The settings are splendid, the special effects such as the cherry blossoms, the autumnal reunion of Zhang and Watanabe, Zhang's spellbinding dance - all are brilliant. John Williams' musical score blends the best of Japanese folk music with contemporary writing and is greatly abetted by the talent of Yo-Yo Ma and Itzak Perlman.Part of the brilliance of Golden's novel was the meticulous explanation of the myriad details of geisha training and demeanor and makeup and tradition, and while the film version touches on these, the bulk of them are passed over. For this viewer there is a problem with understanding the dialogue due to the enunciation by the actors and the covering of much of the dialogue with ambient music. But that is a minor complaint. In all, MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA is an enormously beautiful and affecting film, one that multiple viewings will no doubt enhance the viewers' appreciation. Recommended. Grady Harp, February 06
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