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Memoirs of a Geisha

Play trailer Poster for Memoirs of a Geisha PG-13 Released Dec 23, 2005 2h 16m Drama Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
35% Tomatometer 165 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
In the 1920s, 9-year-old Chiyo (Suzuka Ohgo) gets sold to a geisha house. There, she is forced into servitude, receiving nothing in return until the house's ruling hierarchy determines if she is of high enough quality to service the clientele -- men who visit and pay for conversation, dance and song. After rigorous years of training, Chiyo becomes Sayuri (Ziyi Zhang), a geisha of incredible beauty and influence. Life is good for Sayuri, but World War II is about to disrupt the peace.
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Memoirs of a Geisha

Memoirs of a Geisha

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Critics Consensus

Less nuanced than its source material, Memoirs of a Geisha may be a lavish production, but it still carries the simplistic air of a soap opera.

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Critics Reviews

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Namrata Joshi Outlook Ziyi's fragile radiant presence lights up the screen, the standout scene being her public dance performance which marks her ascension into geishadom. Rated: 2/4 Jan 10, 2019 Full Review Zadie Smith Daily Telegraph (UK) Memoirs of a Geisha hurts the heart and the brain with its crushing monotony, inert, sub-human dialogue and Marshall's calculated attempt to sell us another Hollywood fairytale of prostitution. Jan 16, 2018 Full Review David Ansen Newsweek Trying too hard to grab our attention, [Marshall] loses it. The art of the geisha prizes subtlety, stillness, grace. Why doesn't this movie? Mar 31, 2008 Full Review Arnold Wayne Jones Texas Triangle/TXT When the initially muddled exposition finally begins to take shape and Geisha gets its blood flowing, things improve immeasurably. Rated: 3/4 May 7, 2023 Full Review Felicia Feaster Creative Loafing Marshall has instead crafted a mildly smarmy, heavy-breathing fantasy about some super-hot babes knocking each other down to get to the man meat while ignoring the fact that they are essentially sex slaves. Jan 30, 2020 Full Review Mattie Lucas The Dispatch (Lexington, NC) Certainly is beautiful to look at, but it holds the audience at bay with one dainty, silk-shrouded arm. Rated: 2.5/4 Jun 5, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Can we all agree on that this movie is a masterpiece! This may even be the best movie of the year 2005! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/11/24 Full Review Johann D. M A 2005 epic period drama directed by Rob Marshall and adapted from the 1997 novel of the same name by Arthur Golden that tells the story of a young Japanese girl sold by her impoverished family to a geisha house (okiya) to support them by training as and eventually becoming one of Japan's most celebrated geisha. A visually stunning film with lovely music by the one and only John Williams that is just breathtaking, an entrancing and emotional tale about sacrifice and hardship and the challenges posed before and after WWII for a geisha of that time. Powerful acting despite the controversial decisions to cast non-Japanese actresses, and the cinematography is just marvellous (no wonder it won an Oscar, along with other two categories: Production and Costume Design.) Delving into Japanese history and culture through the eyes of this young girl was really beautiful and enlightening. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/27/24 Full Review Andres U is a romantic story about an imposible crush, so nice and fun to watch perfect to spend a night with a pizza and beer, Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/17/24 Full Review erik v con una fotografía buenísima y una buena historia y con personajes que puedes simpatizar, puedes conectar con todo y meterte en su mundo, lo cual hace una muy buena pelicula para recomendada. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/14/24 Full Review Arthur R Memórias de uma Gueixa possui uma excelente direção de arte, uma excelente fotografia e um excelente trabalho de maquiagem e figurino. Seus cenários são vívidos e representam de maneira soturna a época presente no longa. Apesar de suas qualidades acima da média, seu roteiro é simples e sua narrativa é no máximo boa, pois esse roteiro se perde em alguns momentos, descartando artifícios narrativos que aparentavam ser essênciais para a trama. Mesmo com esse problema no roteiro, o filme consegue fisgar quem está assistindo e nos apresenta um cultura totalmente diferente do convencional. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/04/23 Full Review reka ! eu vi esse filme 8 vezes e eu me arrepiei nas 8 Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/05/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Memoirs of a Geisha

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Cast & Crew

Memoirs of a Geisha

Memoirs of a Geisha: Official Clip - Sumo Match Memoirs of a Geisha: Official Clip - Sumo Match 2:19 Memoirs of a Geisha: Official Clip - You Have Ruined Me Memoirs of a Geisha: Official Clip - You Have Ruined Me 2:27 Memoirs of a Geisha: Official Clip - Sold to Geishas Memoirs of a Geisha: Official Clip - Sold to Geishas 3:32 Memoirs of a Geisha: Official Clip - Forbidden Love Memoirs of a Geisha: Official Clip - Forbidden Love 2:21 Memoirs of a Geisha: Official Clip - Sweet, Shaved Ice Memoirs of a Geisha: Official Clip - Sweet, Shaved Ice 2:11 Memoirs of a Geisha: Official Clip - The Heart Dies a Slow Death Memoirs of a Geisha: Official Clip - The Heart Dies a Slow Death 3:25 Memoirs of a Geisha: Official Clip - Becoming a Geisha Memoirs of a Geisha: Official Clip - Becoming a Geisha 2:13 Memoirs of a Geisha: Official Clip - Burning Vengeance Memoirs of a Geisha: Official Clip - Burning Vengeance 2:28 Memoirs of a Geisha: Official Clip - Closer to You Memoirs of a Geisha: Official Clip - Closer to You 2:27 Memoirs of a Geisha: Official Clip - Snow Dance Memoirs of a Geisha: Official Clip - Snow Dance 2:38 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis In the 1920s, 9-year-old Chiyo (Suzuka Ohgo) gets sold to a geisha house. There, she is forced into servitude, receiving nothing in return until the house's ruling hierarchy determines if she is of high enough quality to service the clientele -- men who visit and pay for conversation, dance and song. After rigorous years of training, Chiyo becomes Sayuri (Ziyi Zhang), a geisha of incredible beauty and influence. Life is good for Sayuri, but World War II is about to disrupt the peace.
Director
Rob Marshall
Producer
Steven Spielberg, Douglas Wick, Lucy Fisher
Screenwriter
Robin Swicord
Distributor
DreamWorks SKG, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co
Columbia Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures
Rating
PG-13 (Some Sexual Content|Mature Subject Matter)
Genre
Drama, Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 23, 2005, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$57.0M
Runtime
2h 16m
Sound Mix
Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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