IS “Memoirs of a Geisha”

an inspiring, beautiful and deep movie or only an unworthy american drama film?

“Memoirs of a Geisha” is an epic drama movie based on the book of the same name by Arthur Golden. Movie was shot by an american director Rob Marshall and was released in 2005 by Columbia Pictures. It tells us a story which was happening between 1920 and 1940 in Kyoto (during that period of time this Japanese city already had a one million population). This is a story about little girl Chiyo who was sold by her poor parents. She arrived in Kyoto with her sister (who was sold as well) and appeared at The Home of geishas where she was among absolutely unknown people because her sister had appeared in another Home. Then we see her growing up, how she went through different obstacles, learned geisha`s life and made her own conclusions about it. There are three storylines in the plot. The first one is about becoming a geisha. More precisely, the most famous geisha in Kyoto so as to get inheritance of the Home. She had an assistant who was a great geisha in the past (her name is Mameha). It was exactly Mameha who said for the first time that Sauyri had an aspiration to be one of the best geishas.With Mameha she stood up to Hatsumomo (also geisha, her main enemy) .The second one is a lovestory of Sauyri (it is a new Chiyo`s name) and The Chairman. Sauyri was a child when she met him on the bridge. She was desperate and frustrated by her destiny. The Chairman saw a six-years-old crying girl and compassionately soothed her. It was a beginning of Sauyri`s striving to be the best geisha in order to meet him again some day. The third storyline describes events during The Second World War and what happened to Sauyri, The Chairman and others. The conclusion is also unexpected, it unravels all the mysteries.

The best thing in the film is its atmosphere and beauty. It`s not surprisingly because this movie won Academy Awards for the best art direction, cinematography and costume design. It was also nominated for the best body of music and the best sound editing. The picture is really fabulous and inspiring due to the mix of the music (which John Williams wrote specially for the film), costumes, beautiful architecture and stunning scenery. While you are watching this movie you feel an actual spirit of Japan and it makes you fascinated.

Production

Quite interestingly, in the beginning this film was planned to be directed by Steven Spielberg but at the same time he was directing such films as “Catch me if you can”, “Minority report” and “Artificial intelligence”. So, he decided to refuse “Memoirs”. So it happened that Rob Marshal was actually interested in doing something non-musical (because he is a musical director as well) and he accepted the proposal.

Another interesting fact is that three of the main actors (including Sauyri, Mameha and Hatsumomo) are not Japanese at all.

Sauyri is Ziyi Zhang and she is Chinese.

Hatsumomo is Gomg Li and she is also Chinese

And Mameha is Michelle Yeoh. She is Malaysian.

As you understand this fact caused a stir in the Asian community. Both Japanese and Chinese society were unpleased and even furious. The reason of such a bad impression is that Chinese don`t respect geishas at all due to their notoriety. The main actress was named “embarrassment to China”.

As for Japanese, they were insulted by the fact that the main actress is Chinese. They regarded it as a disrespect to their culture and traditions. Furthermore, there are some inaccurate things in the film which could lead to the misunderstanding of geisha`s concept.

Some reviewers even thought that the director intentionally chosen Chinese actress so as to emphasise the China`s offence on Japan because during The Second World War many Chinese women were kidnapped to be “comfort women” for their soldiers.

The answer of the cast was that director was only interested in an suitable actress who would be a perfect match for this role. It`s not about the nationality, it`s about the art. Moreover, “Geisha” isn`t a documentary at all and it`s not supposed to be only for Japanese audience, it`s for the world. Anyway, this endless argument between two countries led to lots of problems with promoting the film.

My personal opinion.

“Memoirs of a Geisha” is one of my favourite films. I know that majority of people could say that it`s unworthy because of an inaccurate historical basement. I deem, we should distinguish between the two different notions: the History and the Art. Creator has an opportunity to do everything. He (or she) isn`t obliged to be precise, it`s not compulsory to depict a reality. Sometimes it`s better to evaluate the movie as a piece of art, to absorb yourself exactly in that reality which was constructed by the cast and comprehend all its depths. Then you will be able to appreciate it.

I heard about this film for the first time when I was watching the interview with a figure skater Evgenia Medvedeva. Her contemporary free program is based on this film and the music of John Williams. I was really smitten with amazement after seeing it so I decided to watch the movie which was the basis for the Medvedeva`s performance.

The music in “Memoirs” deserve a great respect. Previously, I didn`t realize the significance of a music body but now I totally appreciate it. Music adds a special soul to the movie. It`s like good music makes any film alive. John Williams expressed a subtle Japanese spirit through his music very successfully.

All in all, my answer to the question which is in the name of the article is that “Memoirs of a Geisha” is a touching, inspiring synthesis of arts which is doubtlessly worthy.

Some quotes from the movie which I like the most.

My mother always said my sister Satsu was like wood; as rooted to the earth as a sakura tree. But she told me I was like water. Water can carve its way even through stone...and when trapped, water makes a new path…

Remember Chiyo, geisha are not courtesans, and we're not wives. We sell our skills, not our bodies. We create another secret world, a place only of beauty. The very word "geisha" means artist, and to be a geisha is to be judged as a moving work of art.

We are the wives of nightfall. And yet to learn of kindness, after so much unkindness... To understand that a little girl with more courage than she knew, would find that her prayers were answered...can that not be called happiness? After all, these are not the memoirs of an empress, nor of a queen. These are memoirs of another kind.