In the 1920s, 9-year-old Chiyo gets sold to a geisha house. There, she is forced into servitude, receiving nothing in return until the house's ruling hierarchy determines if she is of high enough quality to service the clientele -- men who visit and pay for conversation, dance and song. After rigorous years of training, Chiyo becomes Sayuri, a geisha of incredible beauty and influence. Life is good for Sayuri, but World War II is about to disrupt the peace.Written by
Jwelch5742
Because none of the Japanese rickshaws were large enough for the two women to be comfortably seated next to each other, the rickshaw used for the scenes in which Mameha and Sayuri travel together in one carriage was manufactured in California, using wheels and axles shipped in from Japan. See more »
Goofs
Sayuri is the Year of the Monkey, not the Rooster. See more »
Quotes
Sayuri Narration:
[while little Chiyo is on the train to the hanamachi]
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 through stone. And when trapped, water makes a new path.
See more »
Crazy Credits
No studio logos are shown at the beginning. They however appear shortened after the end credits and are accompanied by the film's score. See more »
Kanjincho (The Subscription List)
(ca 1840)
Written by Rokusaburo Kineya (as Kineya Rokusaburo)
Performed by Ensemble Nipponia
Courtesy of Nonesuch Records
By Arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing See more »
User Reviews
Good adaptation of famous novel with complete oriental casting
Chiyo(Suzuka) is a child who lives along with parents(Mako) a miserable life in a impoverished fishing village.She is sold to a Geisha house(Tsai Chin) in Kyoto suffering misfortunes,odds,,brutal treatment and humiliations specially by the principal Geisha, Hatsumomo(Gong Li). One time grown up(Zhang Ziyi)she is saved by his rival Mameha(Michelle Yeoh).She'll work in laborious activities until achieve being the Japan's most celebrated Geisha confronting against the jealousy contender(Gong Li). From the starting point are described the emotions,records and infancy images; continuing with the adult epoch and her success as Geisha until the second world war and after time in that protagonist tries going the ancient way of life,thus problems are always cropping up among conflict of tradition and modernism. The picture is plenty of inventive and stimulating images and develops a complex human drama,love story and is pretty moving. The film is a nice rendition of a famed bestseller by Arthur Golden and lavishly produced by Spielberg and Douglas Wick. It's colorfully and stunningly photographed by Dion Beebe.Brilliant and luxurious costume design was realized by Collem Atwoodand,besides wonderful Japanese houses and gardens with lush production design. Evocative and atmospheric music with oriental sounds by the master John Williams who in that year(2004) made four excellent musical scores:War of the words,Star Wars,Munich and this movie. The motion picture is rightly directed by Rob Marshall. Well worth watching for the cinematography and gowns. Rating :Above average
5 of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
| Report this
Chiyo(Suzuka) is a child who lives along with parents(Mako) a miserable life in a impoverished fishing village.She is sold to a Geisha house(Tsai Chin) in Kyoto suffering misfortunes,odds,,brutal treatment and humiliations specially by the principal Geisha, Hatsumomo(Gong Li). One time grown up(Zhang Ziyi)she is saved by his rival Mameha(Michelle Yeoh).She'll work in laborious activities until achieve being the Japan's most celebrated Geisha confronting against the jealousy contender(Gong Li). From the starting point are described the emotions,records and infancy images; continuing with the adult epoch and her success as Geisha until the second world war and after time in that protagonist tries going the ancient way of life,thus problems are always cropping up among conflict of tradition and modernism. The picture is plenty of inventive and stimulating images and develops a complex human drama,love story and is pretty moving. The film is a nice rendition of a famed bestseller by Arthur Golden and lavishly produced by Spielberg and Douglas Wick. It's colorfully and stunningly photographed by Dion Beebe.Brilliant and luxurious costume design was realized by Collem Atwoodand,besides wonderful Japanese houses and gardens with lush production design. Evocative and atmospheric music with oriental sounds by the master John Williams who in that year(2004) made four excellent musical scores:War of the words,Star Wars,Munich and this movie. The motion picture is rightly directed by Rob Marshall. Well worth watching for the cinematography and gowns. Rating :Above average