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IMDbPro

Memoirs of a Geisha

  • 2005
  • PG-13
  • 2h 25m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
154K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,506
1,086
Ziyi Zhang in Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
Trailer 1
Play trailer2:34
11 Videos
99+ Photos
DramaRomance

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

  • Director
    • Rob Marshall
  • Writers
    • Robin Swicord
    • Arthur Golden
  • Stars
    • Ziyi Zhang
    • Ken Watanabe
    • Michelle Yeoh
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    154K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,506
    1,086
    • Director
      • Rob Marshall
    • Writers
      • Robin Swicord
      • Arthur Golden
    • Stars
      • Ziyi Zhang
      • Ken Watanabe
      • Michelle Yeoh
    • 646User reviews
    • 205Critic reviews
    • 54Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 3 Oscars
      • 32 wins & 47 nominations total

    Videos11

    Memoirs of a Geisha
    Trailer 2:34
    Watch Memoirs of a Geisha
    Memoirs of a Geisha
    Trailer 2:28
    Watch Memoirs of a Geisha
    Memoirs of a Geisha
    Clip 0:56
    Watch Memoirs of a Geisha
    Memoirs of a Geisha
    Clip 1:09
    Watch Memoirs of a Geisha
    Memoirs Of A Geisha Scene: I Have Given You My Life
    Clip 1:24
    Watch Memoirs Of A Geisha Scene: I Have Given You My Life
    Memoirs Of A Geisha Scene: We All Stumble
    Clip 1:32
    Watch Memoirs Of A Geisha Scene: We All Stumble
    Memoirs Of A Geisha Scene: I Want A Life That Is Mine
    Clip 1:05
    Watch Memoirs Of A Geisha Scene: I Want A Life That Is Mine
    Memoirs Of A Geisha Scene: Formal Training
    Clip 1:14
    Watch Memoirs Of A Geisha Scene: Formal Training
    Memoirs Of A Geisha Scene: The Cherry Blossom
    Clip 1:14
    Watch Memoirs Of A Geisha Scene: The Cherry Blossom
    Memoirs Of A Geisha Scene: You Will Be Known As Sayuri
    Clip 1:11
    Watch Memoirs Of A Geisha Scene: You Will Be Known As Sayuri
    Memoirs Of A Geisha Scene: Your Offer
    Clip 0:57
    Watch Memoirs Of A Geisha Scene: Your Offer

    Photos211

    Gong Li, Tsai Chin, and Kaori Momoi in Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
    Rob Marshall, Ken Watanabe, and Ziyi Zhang in Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
    Ken Watanabe in Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
    Ziyi Zhang in Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
    Suzuka Ohgo in Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
    Ken Watanabe and Ziyi Zhang in Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
    Yûki Kudô in Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
    Rob Marshall and Ziyi Zhang in Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
    Gong Li, Michelle Yeoh, and Ziyi Zhang in Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
    Gong Li and Suzuka Ohgo in Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
    Gong Li, Kaori Momoi, and Ziyi Zhang in Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
    Michelle Yeoh, Rob Marshall, and Ziyi Zhang in Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ziyi Zhang
    Ziyi Zhang
    • Sayuri
    Ken Watanabe
    Ken Watanabe
    • Chairman
    Michelle Yeoh
    Michelle Yeoh
    • Mameha
    Suzuka Ohgo
    Suzuka Ohgo
    • Chiyo
    Togo Igawa
    Togo Igawa
    • Tanaka
    Mako
    Mako
    • Sakamoto
    Samantha Futerman
    Samantha Futerman
    • Satsu
    Elizabeth Sung
    Elizabeth Sung
    • Sakamoto's Wife
    Thomas Ikeda
    • Mr. Bekku
    Gong Li
    Gong Li
    • Hatsumomo
    Tsai Chin
    Tsai Chin
    • Auntie
    Kaori Momoi
    Kaori Momoi
    • Mother
    Zoe Weizenbaum
    Zoe Weizenbaum
    • Young Pumpkin
    David Okihiro
    • Shamisen Teacher
    Miyako Tachibana
    • Dance Teacher
    Kotoko Kawamura
    • Granny
    Karl Yune
    Karl Yune
    • Koichi
    Eugenia Yuan
    Eugenia Yuan
    • Korin
    • Director
      • Rob Marshall
    • Writers
      • Robin Swicord(screenplay)
      • Arthur Golden(book)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      There was much discussion about the traditional Geisha hairstyles of the time period and the filmmakers decided to give each character a specific hairstyle that was slightly symbolic of her character. Pumpkin's hair was slightly over-exaggerated with many ornaments to indicate her character's desperation to succeed. Hatsumomo's hair when loose was wild, while her up-do was set with sections of hair dangling out to indicate her character's disregard for tradition, and her loose morals. Mameha's hair was side swept with simple buns or generally loose over one shoulder to give her a simple elegant appearance, as Mameha is supposed to be naturally beautiful. Sayuri's hair was always a simple style either in a bun, a braid or a less exaggerated style to indicate her natural beauty and less need of elaborate styles.
    • Goofs
      When Hatsumomo and Pumpkin are leaving on the night of Pumpkin's debut, neither Mother nor Auntie spark flint on their backs. A Geisha would never leave her okiya without this act being performed as it was believed it brought good luck.
    • Quotes

      Sayuri Narration: The heart dies a slow death. Shedding each hope like leaves, until one day there are none. No hopes. Nothing remains.

    • 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.
    • Connections
      Featured in The 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards 2006 (2006)
    • Soundtracks
      Anata No Mono Yo
      Written by Takao Saeki and Kouka Sassa

      Performed by Noriko Awaya

      Courtesy of Columbia Music Entertainment, Inc.

    User reviews646

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    A Top-Notch Eye Candy
    Can a group of American men and Chinese actresses render the world of a Japanese geisha? The answer is yes, with stunning beauty … and regrettable flaws.

    Truth be told, this movie was not as bad as its trailer led me to expect it to be. It had a story to tell (although it crumbles in the end),images to show, and material to present. There were ample displays of exquisite beauty -- the trailing tails of silk kimonos, the subtle allure of hand gestures, and the captivating scene of kabuki dance theater ...

    On the other hand, the American director was not able to pull the Japanese out of Chinese actresses. (This movie was so crowded by famous Chinese idols that I found myself inadvertently searching for Joan Chen among the cast.) To be fair, all three main actors (Gong Li in particular) show strong performances that made me sympathetic to Rob Marshall's choices. However, they remain utterly Chinese throughout this movie. The look and accent are not the only problems. They lacked the kind of extreme femininity and excessive felicity of the delicately mechanical gesture and movements of traditional Japanese ladies you see in custom dramas of Japanese production. (Michelle Yeoh seems to be the only one trying a little bit of those, but it did not quite work for some reason.)

    So, let me re-address the question: Can a group of American men and Chinese actresses render the world of a geisha? The answer, I guess, really depends on what you are looking for. If you would like a little bit of delight from an aesthetically pleasing picture with a dubious authenticity and realism, this movie delivers it. I would not say Rob Marshall failed completely. Memoirs of a Geisha is not the first, nor the last, movie that subjects another culture to the crude lens of American exoticism. It definitely is not the worst one.
    helpful•416
    208
    • kate_lee-movie
    • Nov 24, 2005

    FAQ9

    • Is 'Memoirs of a Geisha' based on a book?
    • What was the significance of the handkerchief?
    • What was the white stuff that the geishas had to sleep on?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 23, 2005 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • Japan
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Sony Pictures (United States)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Hồi Ức Của Một Geisha
    • Filming locations
      • California State Railroad Museum - 111 I Street, Sacramento, California, USA(interiors: railroad station)
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures
      • Dreamworks Pictures
      • Spyglass Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $85,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $57,490,508
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $682,504
      • Dec 11, 2005
    • Gross worldwide
      • $162,242,962
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 25 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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