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December 29, 2005
Memoirs of Geisha
05:14 PM
How could I miss this year’s token Asian film?
Memoirs of a Geisha is a fairly good movie. From my two years as a bookseller, it is definitely one of the regularly requested titles (on par with many timeless classics), however I never really appealed to me to actually want to read it.
In brief, Chiyo (Zhang Ziyi) was sold to a geisha house in another village when she was nine, and was treated like how one would think that a slave would be treated. Luckily, teenage Chiyo was later then placed under the mentorship of Mameha (Michelle Yeoh), who would teach her all the fine elements to being a geisha. The trailer seems to suggest that the movie is romantic drama between Ziyi and the Chairman (Ken Watanabe), but seriously I have trouble understanding the love plot in the movie. I will explain this in the spoiler segment.
The film was shot very beautifully— from the pretty scenic backdrop, to the art demonstrated by the geishas. However, just like Brokeback Mountain as what Bev says, I found myself in a situation where I just couldn’t catch what they’re saying. Though I must say that I understood Ziyi better than Heath Ledger in Brokeback— and she doesn’t even speak that much English!
But even taking a step back, why is this movie in English? I understand that this is a work of English fiction, but it just seems weird to experience this movie in English dialogue.
Spoiler Begins: The Chairman meets Chiyo as a girl at age nine, treats her to what I perceive to be a slushy (they called it “flavored ice”). Chiyo then suddenly gains hope to become a geisha so that one day she would get to see the Chairman again. Through the course of the movie, we realize that Chiyo develops feelings for this man, and we also realize that by the end of the movie, he also had feelings for her. Whoa, it seems rather paedophilic to my liking.
I’m also very confused about the role of geishas. On many occasions in the movie, Ziyi says to antsy men who are interested in sex, that it is not the role of a geisha to do these things, but at the same time, she sells her own virginity to the highest bidder. What the fuck? Are they trying to play that whole, “I’m all innocent” thing?
Aside from the fact that Ziyi’s dance performance really looks like scenes from The Ring, it was still a pretty good film. Ziyi looked really good in the movie. She was perfect for the part— as I’m sure she will really capture western audiences. Yes, there are currently some Chinese/Japanese historical and political issues. However I feel that it is a totally different matter, and we should not judge these two elements together.
In short, I recommend it.
Memoirs of a Geisha - [imdb.com]
Filed under Movies, published In Toronto
4 Comments
December 30, 2005 12:59 PM
It sounds like the movie glosses over huge tracts of the book. The love story sounds like it makes more sense, and they certainly explain the roles of geisha's quite well. The book is actually really good and well worth reading.
January 5, 2006 04:48 PM
I'm a bit confused as to who placed the highest bid for Sayuri's virginity?
Was it the doctor or the Baron? I was under the impression that the Baron paid the higest. But Mameha says something about the doctor.... hope you can clarify.
January 5, 2006 06:43 PM
Mameha (Michelle Yeoh) explained later that it was the Baron that placed the highest bid. However, she turned him down for the doctor-- since she was well aware that the Baron had tried to take advantage of Sayuri during the "kimono offering."
January 6, 2006 10:58 AM
Thanks for clarifying Matt!