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Sakuran

Play trailer Sakuran 2006 1h 50m History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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73% Tomatometer 11 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
In the 18th-century, a Japanese courtesan (Anna Tsuchiya) wants her freedom.
Sakuran

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Critics Consensus

Sumptuous and arty Japanese geisha flick, tastefully filmed, but with irritating soundtrack. Like Marie Antoinette with Sake instead of Champagne.

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Critics Reviews

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Derek Malcolm London Evening Standard 08/29/2008
3/5
If it is all a little like an arty novelette, there's no doubt it is a feast for the eye. Go to Full Review
Sukhdev Sandhu Daily Telegraph (UK) 08/29/2008
Ninagawa, like Sophia Coppola in Marie Antoinette, brings to a traditional story a keen compositional flair and a love of bright colours, as well as deploying a lively, jazzy soundtrack. Go to Full Review
Peter Bradshaw Guardian 08/29/2008
3/5
As the story progresses, it settles into something more traditionally sorrowful, but not before it has delivered a blast of energy. Go to Full Review
Panos Kotzathanasis Asian Movie Pulse 02/21/2021
"Sakuran" implements a very interesting story through a thorough look at the lives of the geisha, but most of all, remains a triumph of style, a film proving that the "package" can actually be the most crucial aspect of a narrative. Go to Full Review
Sarah Manvel Cinemattraction 02/10/2019
Sakuran's unique selling point are the jaw-dropping visuals. Director Mika Ninagawa is a garlanded fashion photographer, and she knows how to dress an image. Go to Full Review
Rich Cline Shadows on the Wall 08/29/2008
2.5/5
So full of attitude that it fairly leaps off the screen with claws bared Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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07/02/2019 Visually enticing with superb soundtrack. See more 01/13/2015 Sakuran (2006) This Japanese movie is not yet available on DVD here in the U.S. and is often compared to Memoirs of a Geisha (2005). I personally feel that Sakuran is a lot better movie. Perhaps director Mika Ninagawa's amazing visuals are due to the story being based on the Manga, versus Memoirs' being based on the novel. Also, Anna Tsuchiya's character Kiyoha, is a loud-mouthed broad that isn't afraid to tell you what she thinks of you, versus the typical female-playing-victim that we get here in American chick-flicks. Not that she doesn't get her fair share of abuse from the men she meets. She can dish it out as well as she takes it. The movie also is romantic and even a little sentimental. I didn't fully appreciate the more modern mix of music in the soundtrack. It really didn't fit the movie well and was slightly distracting. But, other than that it was an excellent movie and I highly recommend it. See more 08/28/2013 Basically Memoirs of a Geisha done a little more realistic and properly. Extremely colorful, and shot beautifully. It does have a few problems however with how some things are handled but was done to advance the plot (without trying to spoil the main part a real Samurai would have killed them immediately, no questions asked) and although I LOVE Shiina Ringo in some parts her music was treated similar to how Baz Lurhmann does music in his film, not to advance the plot but to appeal to a younger crowd. Worth seeing See more 01/30/2013 Let's get it out of the way first: the cinematography here is gorgeous and really captures this hyper-realist look to the film. It's too bad the first half of the film is pretty meandering. The second half is better and the ending is ALMOST enough to save this from a negative review. However, I think some of the sugarcoating done here of the sex industry is a bit much. For better, gritty, and more realistic takes on the topic, see some Suzuki's films from the 60's like 'Gate of Flesh' or 'Story of a Prostitute'. See more 01/20/2013 A gawdy japanese pop-romance in a similar vein to hollywood Marie Antoinette, but besting Marie-Antoinette in every respect.Sexy and emancipated. See more 07/20/2012 A bit boring, really. See more Read all reviews
Sakuran

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Movie Info

Synopsis In the 18th-century, a Japanese courtesan (Anna Tsuchiya) wants her freedom.
Director
Mika Ninagawa
Production Co
Asmik Ace, Inc.
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
Japanese
Runtime
1h 50m