Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)

 

 

 

 

 

Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)

 

 

In the years before World War II, a Japanese child is torn from her penniless family to work as a geisha house. Despite a treacherous rival who nearly breaks her spirit, the girl blossoms into the legendary geisha Sayuri. Beautiful and accomplished, Sayuri captivates the most powerful men of her day, but is haunted by her secret love for the one man beyond her reach.

Production Status:	Released
Genres:	Drama and Romance
Release Date:	December 9th, 2005 (NY/LA/SF), December 16th, 2005 (limited), December 23rd, 2005 (wide)
MPAA Rating:	PG-13 for mature subject matter and some sexual content.
Distributors:	DreamWorks SKG, Sony Pictures Releasing
Production Co.:	Amblin Entertainment, Red Wagon Entertainment
Studios:	Columbia Pictures, DreamWorks SKG
Financiers:	Co-Financier: Spyglass Entertainment Group
Filming Locations:	Japan Los Angeles, California, USA
Produced in:	United States

 

 

 

Suzuka Ohgo in Columbia Pictures' Memoirs of a Geisha - 2005

 

 

 

"Memoirs of a Geisha" Directed by Rob Marshall and Starring Ziyi Zhang

 

Ziyi Zhang in Columbia Pictures' Memoirs of a Geisha - 2005

 

 

 

Rob Marshall didn't leave "Chicago" far behind when he set about working on "Memoirs of a Geisha." The Oscar-nominated director brought a lot of his behind-the-scenes crew from "Chicago" with him to work on this romantic epic, including director of photography Dion Beebe, production designer John Myhre, and costume designer Colleen Atwood.

With "Chicago," Marshall proved he can handle a big ensemble cast and a larger-than-life story. Those talents - plus having skillful translators on the set everyday - must have come in handy when he set out to make Arthur Golden's bestseller accessible to moviegoers.

Set years before World War II, "Memoirs of a Geisha" is the story of the legendary geisha Sayuri.

 

The beautiful Sayuri captivates powerful men, but the one man her heart yearns for is out of her reach. one of China's most recognizable actresses, Ziyi Zhang, plays the title character. Ken Watanabe ("Batman Begins")co-stars as the man Sayuri loves but can't be with.

 

 

 

 

Ziyi Zhang and Gong Li in Columbia Pictures' Memoirs of a Geisha - 2005

 

 

 

 

Gong Li in Columbia Pictures' Memoirs of a Geisha - 2005

 

 

Ziyi Zhang, Michelle Yeoh and Gong Li in Columbia Pictures' Memoirs of a Geisha - 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michelle Yeoh and Ziyi Zhang in Columbia Pictures' Memoirs of a Geisha - 2005

 

 

 

Ziyi Zhang in Columbia Pictures' Memoirs of a Geisha - 2005

 

 

 

 

 

Ziyi Zhang in Columbia Pictures' Memoirs of a Geisha - 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808405115/details

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Memoirs of a Geisha"
Movie Premiere

Interviews with

 

Ziyi Zhang, Michelle Yeoh, and Youki Kudoh

Interviews with Ziyi Zhang and Michelle Yeoh from "Memoirs of a Geisha"

 

"Memoirs of a Geisha" Hollywood Premiere Coverage

The Hollywood Premiere of "Memoirs of a Geisha" was one of the most elegant premieres of 2005. The stars of the film looked absolutely beautiful (even the men) and the realistic looking Japanese cherry trees lining the red carpet set up in front of the Kodak Theater helped set the tone for the evening's gala special event.

 

"Memoirs of a Geisha" stars Ziyi Zhang and Michelle Yeoh graciously answered a few questions about their work on the film before taking in the screening:

Ziyi Zhang on Learning to Play a Geisha and Her Attraction to the Character, Sayuri: "I think for me it’s not too hard to learn those things. I know [that] how many hours you spend you could get it. But I think the hardest thing is, because my character, you have to hold all of her emotions back.

 

Sometimes I wanted to cry out but I couldn’t. I have to hold it in. That was really hard and many scenes after they checked the gate and Rob was happy, I just went to the corner and just let it out. That was really tough."

 

Ziyi Zhang on Leaving Sayuri Behind at the End of the Day: "That was really hard. It never happened before but this time I was just totally just stick in the character. I remember the last day when Rob said, ‘That’s a day for Zi,’ and I really wanted to say something but I couldn’t. At the moment, I felt I was lost. I didn’t know about tomorrow, where I’m going to. I finished my part and I didn’t want that to happen."

Michelle Yeoh Talks About the Many Languages on the Set of "Memoirs of a Geisha:" "It’s fun. It wasn’t as crazy as it got because I’m very fortunate in the sense that I speak Mandarin so I was able to converse with Zi and Gong Li. And then I know a little bit of Japanese because I had worked with Hiroyuki Sanada before and, you know, so I know the odd words here and there. I’ve always been so fascinated by the culture so there is a great understanding. And Cary [Tagawa] and Ken [Watanabe] and Koji [Yakusho], they’re just such amazing actors to work with. By the end of it, we would sometimes wonder what language are we speaking in because we already understood what we were trying to say (laughing)."

Michelle Yeoh on the Costumes: "It was necessary for the character because every time that you put it on, you were reminded of what you were trying to portray. They were so beautiful."

Ziyi Zhang on the Physical Aspects of Playing a Geisha: "I had to learn how to become a convincing geisha. You know, we only had six weeks and we had to learn how to walk, how to bow, how to pour the tea, and to do all the same subtle gestures. And for me, I had a few dance scenes so I had to learn to dance in the 12 inch platform shoes."

Ziyi Zhang Compliments Her "Memoirs of a Geisha" Director Rob Marshall: "He’s great, really. I can see that he’s someone that everyone would fall in love with. He’s just such a genius. He knows everything. He’s not a geisha but he knows everything (laughing)."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://movies.about.com/od/memoirsofageisha/a/memoirsmy120405.htm

 

 

 

 

 

 

할리우드식 동양화 화첩, <게이샤의 추억>

 

황진이를 창부라고 부르는 것이 못내 아쉽다면, 그것은 “청산리 벽계수야 수이감을 자랑마라”고 한수 읊을 줄 알았던 그이의 기예와 자긍심 때문이다.   전통적인 게이샤(예자/藝者) 역시 기생과 마찬가지로 기예를 긍지삼아 살아가던 여인들이었다. 높은 값에 처녀성을 경매하고 권세가들 옆에서 웃음을 팔고 살았을지언정 그들은 당대의 예술가라는 자의식을 안고 살았다.   <게이샤의 추억>은 그처럼 몸과 예술을 하나로 엮어 팔았던 어느 게이샤의 회고록이다. 소녀 치요(오고 스즈카)는 가난 때문에 교토의 게이샤촌으로 팔려간다. 당대 최고의 게이샤 하츠모모(공리)의 미움을 사서 하녀로 전락한 치요는 우연히 만난 회장(와타나베 겐)에게 연정을 품고, 하츠모모의 라이벌인 마메하(양자경)의 도움을 받아 사유리(장쯔이)라는 이름의 게이샤로 거듭난다.   실제 게이샤의 회고담을 토대로 한 원작을 영화화했다지만 <게이샤의 추억>은 일본 문화의 속살을 정확하게 묘사하는 데 사로잡혀 있지는 않다. 다국적 캐스팅과 할리우드 자본으로 창조된 이 ‘기온의 자매’에서 롱테이크 속에 한숨을 담아낸 미조구치 겐지의 숨결을 기대하는 것도 곤란한 일일 것이다. 대신 제작진은 LA 근교에 거대한 교토의 기온(게이샤 거주지)을 상상으로 재현했고, 그 상상의 장소에서 롭 마셜은 비천한 현실과 쇼비즈니스의 환상을 교환했던 <시카고>의 여인들처럼 게이샤의 삶을 그려낸다. 물론 미국인의 책을 미국인의 눈으로 재해석한 <게이샤의 추억>은 태생적으로 오리엔탈리즘의 혐의로부터 자유로울 수 없는 영화다. 하지만 너무도 비싸고 은밀해 일본인조차 알지 못했던 게이샤의 세계는 원래부터가 잡히지 않는 환영에 다름 아니었을 것이다.   의상감독 콜린 앳우드가 전통에 구애받지 않고 만들어낸 화려한 기모노처럼, <게이샤의 추억>은 역사를 재현하는 대신 환상으로 치환해낸다. 그래서 이 할리우드식 동양화 화첩의 사치스럽고 얇고 가벼운 즐거움은 심장보다는 오감을 더욱 쾌락적으로 자극한다.   걱정과 달리 기본기가 튼튼한 중국인 배우들의 영어- 게이샤 연기는 받아들이기 수월하다. 그중에서도 화룡점정은 역시 ‘기온의 디바’ 하츠모모를 연기한 공리다. 등장하는 장면마다 주인공의 몫을 모조리 앗아가는 이 무시무시한 여배우는 전미비평가협회로부터 최우수 여우조연상을 수상했다.   (글) 김도훈 groove@cine21.com

 

 

 

 

http://movie.yes24.com/movie/movie_review/view.aspx?page=1&no=3175&ref=1801&m_type=0