Memoirs of a Geisha

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Memoirs of a Geisha

PG-13

Released Dec 23, 2005

2h 16m

Drama

Romance

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Popcornmeter

35%

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165 Reviews

83%

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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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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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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

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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

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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

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thiago s

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

07/23/25

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Benjamin W

This movie had some very disturbing scenes that involved mistreatment, harassment, etc.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/17/25

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Geoff R

Intriguing story line with occasionally stunningly beautiful scenes - spectacular dance performance that alone justifies watching this movie. Excellent performances. Held my attention throughout.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/02/25

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Igor S

One of the most beautiful movies i have ever seen in my life. I cannot believe it took 20 years to finally see this, even tho i always suspected i would love it, due to having seen the cinematography and having heard the soundtrack. If you are a lover of cinema, this is a must see. It's on par with any other great movie in the history of cinema.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/16/24

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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

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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

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Rob Marshall

Director

Zhang Ziyi

Sayuri Nitta

Ken Watanabe

The Chairman

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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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