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IMDbPro

Memoirs of a Geisha

  • 20052005
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 25m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
148K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,880
365
Ziyi Zhang in Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
Trailer 1
Play trailer2:34
4 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Drama
  • Romance
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.
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
148K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,880
365
  • Director
    • Rob Marshall
  • Writers
    • Robin Swicord(screenplay)
    • Arthur Golden(book)
  • Stars
    • Ziyi Zhang
    • Ken Watanabe
    • Michelle Yeoh
Top credits
  • Director
    • Rob Marshall
  • Writers
    • Robin Swicord(screenplay)
    • Arthur Golden(book)
  • Stars
    • Ziyi Zhang
    • Ken Watanabe
    • Michelle Yeoh
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 639User reviews
    • 212Critic reviews
    • 54Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 3 Oscars
      • 32 wins & 47 nominations total

    Videos4

    Memoirs of a Geisha
    Trailer 2:34
    Memoirs of a Geisha
    Memoirs of a Geisha
    Trailer 2:28
    Memoirs of a Geisha
    Memoirs of a Geisha
    Clip 0:56
    Memoirs of a Geisha
    Memoirs of a Geisha
    Clip 1:09
    Memoirs of a Geisha

    Photos209

    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
    • Sayurias Sayuri
    Ken Watanabe
    Ken Watanabe
    • Chairmanas Chairman
    Michelle Yeoh
    Michelle Yeoh
    • Mamehaas Mameha
    Suzuka Ohgo
    Suzuka Ohgo
    • Chiyoas Chiyo
    Togo Igawa
    Togo Igawa
    • Tanakaas Tanaka
    Mako
    Mako
    • Sakamotoas Sakamoto
    Samantha Futerman
    Samantha Futerman
    • Satsuas Satsu
    Elizabeth Sung
    Elizabeth Sung
    • Sakamoto's Wifeas Sakamoto's Wife
    Thomas Ikeda
    • Mr. Bekkuas Mr. Bekku
    Gong Li
    Gong Li
    • Hatsumomoas Hatsumomo
    Tsai Chin
    Tsai Chin
    • Auntieas Auntie
    Kaori Momoi
    Kaori Momoi
    • Motheras Mother
    Zoe Weizenbaum
    Zoe Weizenbaum
    • Young Pumpkinas Young Pumpkin
    David Okihiro
    • Shamisen Teacheras Shamisen Teacher
    Miyako Tachibana
    • Dance Teacheras Dance Teacher
    Kotoko Kawamura
    • Grannyas Granny
    Karl Yune
    Karl Yune
    • Koichias Koichi
    Eugenia Yuan
    Eugenia Yuan
    • Korinas Korin
    • Director
      • Rob Marshall
    • Writers
      • Robin Swicord(screenplay)
      • Arthur Golden(book)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      John Williams passed on scoring the fourth Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) in favor of scoring this film.
    • 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 reviews639

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Style AND substance
    Lavish cinematography means 'Memoirs of a Geisha' is never anything less than visually beautiful, and it's hard to think of how any other movie could beat it to an Oscar in this department come March next year. However, the true merit of the film lies in the fact that its sumptuous style does not outweigh substance, something particularly thankful given that such an imbalance was so unfortunately true of House of Flying Daggers, the last major release to star Ziyi Zhang. Instead, the truly enchanting performance of 12-year old Suzaka Oghu, who plays the young Sayuri for the first half hour, ensures attention is captured within her character's story for the rest of the drama. This allows the script to remain pleasingly understated, and also means the unlikely nature of the romance can be overlooked.

    The hibernation that the story withdraws into during the wartime years could so easily have been damaging, but in the event the portrayal of how the post-war influx of American troops corrupted Japan's ancient traditions is just as excellent as the rest of the film.
    helpful•115
    84
    • robhastings1000
    • Dec 4, 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
    • 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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