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Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)

 -  Drama | Romance  -  23 December 2005 (USA)
7.2
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Ratings: 7.2/10 from 84,566 users   Metascore: 54/100
Reviews: 534 user | 225 critic | 38 from Metacritic.com

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

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(screenplay), (book)
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Title: Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)

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Won 3 Oscars. Another 23 wins & 29 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Sakamoto
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Satsu
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Sakamoto's Wife
Thomas Ikeda ...
Mr. Bekku
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Hatsumomo (as Gong Li)
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...
...
David Okihiro ...
Shamisen Teacher
Miyako Tachibana ...
Dance Teacher
Kotoko Kawamura ...
Granny
...
Koichi
...
Korin
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Storyline

In 1929 an impoverished nine-year-old named Chiyo from a fishing village is sold to a geisha house in Kyoto's Gion district and subjected to cruel treatment from the owners and the head geisha Hatsumomo. Her stunning beauty attracts the vindictive jealousy of Hatsumomo, until she is rescued by and taken under the wing of Hatsumomo's bitter rival, Mameha. Under Mameha's mentorship, Chiyo becomes the geisha named Sayuri, trained in all the artistic and social skills a geisha must master in order to survive in her society. As a renowned geisha she enters a society of wealth, privilege, and political intrigue. As World War II looms Japan and the geisha's world are forever changed by the onslaught of history. Written by dumpster_cakes

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Genres:

Drama | Romance

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for mature subject matter and some sexual content | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

|

Release Date:

23 December 2005 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Memorias de una geisha  »

Box Office

Budget:

$85,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$85,436 (South Africa) (5 May 2006)

Gross:

$213,303 (South Africa) (26 May 2006)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

| |

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Youki Kudoh revealed in an interview that her grandmother had suffered much heartache when her husband took a Geisha as a mistress during their marriage. See more »

Goofs

When Chiyo/Sayuri and Pumpkin are listening on Mrs. Nitta and Mameha's discussion of Chiyo's future, and the camera zooms in on the girls' eyes peering through the crack in the door, Chiyo's eyes move very fast and you can clearly see Chiyo's blue contact, since it does not move with the rest of her eye. See more »

Quotes

Mother: Stop crying, your face will run!
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Will & Grace: Von Trapped (2006) See more »

Soundtracks

"Tokyo Boogie Woogie"
(1948)
Music by RyƓichi Hattori
Lyrics by Masaru Suzuki
Performed by Aiko Bingo & The Club Nisei Orchestra
Courtesy of Cord International/Hana Ola Records and 49th State Hawaii Records
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
Breathtaking from the first scene
8 December 2005 | by (New York) – See all my reviews

I lived in Japan for 3 years and I loved the book, rich with visual imagery. I went to the see the movie with a good deal of trepidation, convinced that they were going to butcher it and sex it up to appeal to American audiences. Instead I sat spellbound in my seat as I watched the images that Arthur Golden has created in my mind with words years before, play themselves out on the screen in front of me. Every shot, ever scene, every tiny detail was just beautiful. I literally did not look away from the screen the entire time. The acting wasn't spectacular. I think they could have found somebody better to play Sayuri. The children were all wonderful. The stand-out actress by far was Gong Li as Hatsumomo. The villain had the best opportunities to show her skills as a thespian. The plot stuck very closely to the book. They eliminated the scenes that they needed to in the interest of time, but they didn't try to take any shortcuts or speed up the plot. I really felt like the story was played out beginning to end without sacrificing any of the meat. You'll read a lot of reviews in the coming weeks praising the gorgeous photography. Every word is true. Words like "lush" and "exquisite" only begin to do it justice. I've never had the experience of being transported to another time by a movie in quite this way.


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