"Memoirs of a Geisha"

Photo caption: Ziyi Zhang, Michelle Yeoh and Gong Li in Columbia Pictures' "Memoirs of a Geisha" - 2005

Saw "Memoirs of a Geisha" tonight (first day of release). I liked the movie: the claustrophobic sense of reserve, the hidden secrets, the lash of sudden emotions, long silences. And the rain: so much rain!

The actors and actresses did well. There is apparently a controversy about using so many Chinese players in a movie about a quintessentially-Japanese subject, but my philosophy is that one shouldn't cast by nationality, but rather by appropriateness for the role. If the Chinese actors were the best at auditions, then they should play the parts. As Roger Ebert notes:

Even in Japan, Zhang and Li outgross any Japanese actress.

Nevertheless, without a lot of education, it's hard to tell how authentic the movie is. There is an entire universe of hard work and specialized high culture involved with the Geisha, and I suspect only Japanese cultural authorities can say with assurance how well the movie approximated the real world of the Geisha. I wonder what the Japanese will think?

I like this comment on imdb:

"Geisha" is essentially a soap opera wrapped tightly in the robes of a holiday prestige picture, representing the finest in production quality and acting talent that normally comes along with this level of flagrant Oscar-baiting. The scope of craftsmanship on display in the film is largely impressive; it's clear that Marshall knows how to photograph a pretty picture and set a specific mood. Production designer John Myher has worked miracles to encapsulate the insular pre-war atmosphere of Japan, using the narrow walkways and claustrophobic native paper-and-wood construction to set the right tempo in Sayuri's escapeless surroundings. Marshall continues the general theme of oppression through the use of continuous rain and secretive nightfall to accompany the actors almost anywhere they go.

One Japanese reviewer liked the acting (everyone seems to like the acting), but hated the set, the overpowering and disrespectful Hollywood glitz, and the orientalist clap-trap. I do have to agree that the solo dance number, although really cool to watch, was over-the-top: someone, somewhere described the music as 'John Cage on a mandolin' (and as interesting as that might sound, it's noticeably inauthentic even for an uneducated American boob like myself).

Nevertheless, in a world where everyone seems to either love or despise this movie, I fall somewhere in the middle, and think it's an interesting movie, and certainly worth a view!