Home
search
more | tips
IMDb > Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
Memoirs of a Geisha
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 132 | slideshow) Videos (see all 5)
Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) -- Nitta Sayuri reveals how she transcended her fishing-village roots and became one of Japan's most celebrated geisha.
Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) -- Clip: Your Offer
Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) -- Nitta Sayuri reveals how she transcended her fishing-village roots and became one of Japan's most celebrated geisha.
Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) -- Nitta Sayuri reveals how she transcended her fishing-village roots and became one of Japan's most celebrated geisha.
Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) -- Clip: You Will Be Known As Sayuri

Overview

User Rating:
7.1/10   33,662 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 3% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Rob Marshall
Writers (WGA):
Robin Swicord (screenplay)
Arthur Golden (book)
Contact:
View company contact information for Memoirs of a Geisha on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
23 December 2005 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | Romance more
Plot:
Nitta Sayuri reveals how she transcended her fishing-village roots and became one of Japan's most celebrated geisha. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Won 3 Oscars. Another 17 wins & 28 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(43 articles)
Zhang Ziyi photos cause scandal in China
 (From digitalspy. 16 January 2009, 8:16 AM, PST)

Li branded 'traitor' for Singapore move
 (From digitalspy. 12 November 2008, 4:24 PM, PST)

User Comments:
A Top-Notch Eye Candy more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Suzuka Ohgo ... Chiyo

Togo Igawa ... Tanaka

Mako ... Sakamoto

Samantha Futerman ... Satsu

Elizabeth Sung ... Sakamoto's Wife
Thomas Ikeda ... Mr. Bekku
Li Gong ... Hatsumomo (as Gong Li)
Tsai Chin ... Auntie
Kaori Momoi ... Mother

Zoe Weizenbaum ... Young Pumpkin
David Okihiro ... Shamisen Teacher
Miyako Tachibana ... Dance Teacher
Kotoko Kawamura ... Granny

Karl Yune ... Koichi

Eugenia Yuan ... Korin
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for mature subject matter and some sexual content.
Runtime:
145 min | Philippines:140 min
Country:
USA
Language:
Japanese | English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS
Certification:
Finland:K-11 | UK:12A | Australia:M | Singapore:PG | Ireland:12A | Czech Republic:12 | Sweden:7 | Argentina:13 | Hong Kong:IIA | Germany:12 | Netherlands:MG6 | Malaysia:18PL | Malaysia:U (cut version) | Indonesia:Dewasa | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Brazil:14 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Canada Video Rating/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | France:Unrated | France:U | Singapore:NC-16 (special edition DVD) | Iceland:L | Hungary:14 | South Korea:15 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #41007) | China:(Banned)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Julyana Soelistyo was once considered for the role of Pumpkin. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Chiyo apologizes to Mameha about the kimono; when she first bows both sleeves of her kimono are behind her arms but in the next scene when Mameha kneels beside her, the right sleeve is on top of her arm instead of behind it. more
Quotes:
Chairman: We must not expect happiness, Sayuri. It is not something we deserve. When life goes well, it is a sudden gift; it cannot last forever... more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Disaster Movie (2008) more
Soundtrack:
Bairo 1 more

FAQ

How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
Why did Mameha make Sayuri cut her thigh?
What was the significance of the handkerchief?
more
359 out of 551 people found the following comment useful:-
A Top-Notch Eye Candy, 24 November 2005
6/10
Author: kate_lee-movie from United States

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.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Well Made Interesting Movie, But (SPOILER) joeann_21
Does anyone thing that Gong Li deserved an Oscar? davidxx-1
Sayuri's Sister Question awesome606
Only 7.1??? heyouactor
You could tell that it was American made by Randominana
Sociopathy + Charm + Villain = Hatsumomo? mariana_lima18
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Giant Big Fish A Walk to Remember Gone with the Wind Notes on a Scandal
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Drama section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.