January 27, 2006 | Category: Rant

I did a rant about Memoirs of a Geisha at Eternal Forums

Going back to Memoirs of a Geisha, I can’t really comment on the Chinese actors vs Japanese actors. Being honest I would not have been able to tell the difference. I think the issue here is a little like saying Geisha’s were Japanese, Kyoto is in Japan and what the hell would China know about Geisha; or putting it another way, how possibly could Chinese actors portray Japanese culture. Also I read about Gong Li acting the part of Hatsumomo badly, not true, she was very convincing and played the part exactly how I’d imagined.What you have to understand is that even though the story is based on a real life person, the story is a fiction and isn’t 100% accurate. So much so in fact the woman who the story is based on sued the the author Arthur Goldman for mentioning her name in first edition books. There was also outrage over the whole Mizuage (coming of age ceremony source ) which apparently isn’t true.

The two gripes I had about the movie was the fact that certain parts of the story are left off from the book. For instance why is young Chiyo sold by her father at the beginning of the movie. And you can’t tell from watching the film that she is actually sold. Straight away the story takes a hit as the audience cannot relate to her or why she is being taken away or that her father couldn’t afford to keep her and her sister and also the fact that he was promised good care would be taken of them. She just looks like a kid being whisked around the place.

There is so many other parts such as before the big Spring Festival Dance how the poster was created is completely missed out. Which is a really kewl part of the book.

The second issue I had was that the movie was in English. I would have killed for it to be subtitled. Something which the DVD will cure I’m sure. For me it sounds strange because as a viewer you’re transported to an eastern setting, but somehow they speak perfect English, which just doesn’t fit. I read some of the yanks didn’t like the fact that some of the actors had British accents.

Tara’s review of Memoirs of a Geisha confirms what I believed. After seeing the movie, many people will see it just as a typical boring love story. The movie makers have sadly managed to lose the connection with its audience, which the book did very well.

Where it doesn’t fail is in capturing the Beauty of the whole Geisha era. You have to understand that Steven Spielberg is one of the producers on this film and the cinematography doesn’t disappoint.

Yeah I’m a huge fan of the book and the whole Geisha thing.

Before I get dissed I’d like to mention:
Q: What are the common misconceptions that you want to clear up?
A: The most common misconception is that geisha are somehow high-class courtesans, or prostitutes. And that is very much not the case. And also, geisha are not submissive and subservient, but in fact they are some of the most financially and emotionally successful and strongest women in Japan, and traditionally have been so.
: )