Cast: Ziyi Zhang, Suzuka Ohgo, Ken Watanabe, Kôji Yakusho, Youki Kudoh and Li Gong
Director: Rob Marshall
Rating:
Enetertainment Quotient: 30%
Genre: Drama / Romance
Runtime: 145 min
MPAA rating: PG-13 for mature subject matter and some sexual content.

Synopsis:

Chiyo (Suzuka Ohgo) is sold to a Geisha house when she is 9 years old in the early nineties in Japan. She falls in love with the chairman (Ken Watanabe) when she is a kid. The rest of the story is all about how Chiyo becomes the most sought after Geisha and gets close to the man she loves.

What is special in this film?
This film shows how girl becomes a Geisha and the lifestyle of a Geisha from close quarters in detail. Set work is outstanding. Cinematography is exemplary. Music is great. Suzuka Ohgo is elegant as the 9-year old girl. Ken Watanabe exudes charm as the chairman. Dialogues are well written. The director has succeeded in transporting us to the world of Japanese culture for two and a half hours with his class narration and striking visuals. Here are some interesting dialogues -

Mameha: We (Geishas) sell our skills, not our bodies.

Pumpkin: Let us play Truth and Lies game
American General: Back home, we call it marriage.

The scenes I liked in the film

1. The conversation between the kid and the chairman when they first meet.
2. The whole process of transforming Sarayu into a Geisha.
3. The conversation between Sarayu and Nobu where she explains that a Sumo fight is a dance between two fighters; a business deal is a dance between two businessmen etc.
4. The climax of the film where all ends well.

Tailpiece:
This film is based on an English book written by Arthur Golden and directed by American director Rob Marchell (Chicago fame). This film was nominated for six Academy Awards and won three (Art Direction, Cinematography and Costumes Design). This film is like viewing ancient Japanese culture through the eyes of the west.