Memoirs of a Geisha

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Memoirs of a Geisha

PG-13

2005

2h 35m

Drama

Romance

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Popcornmeter

35%

Tomatometer

165 Reviews

83%

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250,000+ Ratings

In the 1920s, 9-year-old Chiyo 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, 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

01/10/2019

2/4

Ziyi's fragile radiant presence lights up the screen, the standout scene being her public dance performance which marks her ascension into geishadom.

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Zadie Smith

Daily Telegraph (UK)

01/16/2018

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.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

03/31/2008

Trying too hard to grab our attention, [Marshall] loses it. The art of the geisha prizes subtlety, stillness, grace. Why doesn't this movie?

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Arnold Wayne Jones

Texas Triangle/TXT

05/07/2023

3/4

When the initially muddled exposition finally begins to take shape and Geisha gets its blood flowing, things improve immeasurably.

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Felicia Feaster

Creative Loafing

01/30/2020

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.

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Mattie Lucas

The Dispatch (Lexington, NC)

06/05/2019

2.5/4

Certainly is beautiful to look at, but it holds the audience at bay with one dainty, silk-shrouded arm.

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Orange C

@Traveler3187 Jan 20

A terrible movie adapted from an equally terrible book.

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Jordan S.

@jswez Jan 17

Theres’s a lot to captivate you in this accurate portrayal of a lesser seen side of Japanese culture, but the road travelled feels painful and unending. Unfortunately the ends don’t justify the means.

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E K

@liz6604 Jan 17

I don't know what the critics are thinking! This was a GREAT movie! I read the book first & I thought it was a very good representation of the book!

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Audrey H.

@audreyholds Jan 12

I think I would have loved this way more had I not read the book first; however, still love the story.

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Josh W

@josh.wilson_za_uk Dec 26

Memoirs of a Geisha is easily one of my all-time favourite films. From start to finish it is visually breathtaking, every frame packed with colour, texture, and detail that makes the world feel alive. Hatsumomo is a chaotic force and utterly unforgettable, and I love her in every scene she is in. Gong Li brings her to life with such precision and intensity, owning the screen in a way that makes you hate her, fear her, and yet be completely mesmerised all at once. Ziyi Zhang and Michelle Yeoh are phenomenal too, giving the story heart, weight, and elegance, but Gong Li steals every scene she touches. The tension is electric, and the drama lands with real emotional impact. Watching Chiyo’s journey from innocence to resilience is heartbreaking and powerful, and the story is elevated by the performances, the atmosphere, and the sheer beauty of the production. It is immersive and every time I watch it I find something new to fall in love with.

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M L

Nov 30

Critics are wrong yet again. It was beautiful and very interesting. Too bad so many couldn't pay attention long enough.

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Rob Marshall

Director

Zhang Ziyi

Sayuri Nitta

Ken Watanabe

The Chairman

Michelle Yeoh

Mameha

Kôji Yakusho

Nobu

Yûki Kudô

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Synopsis

In the 1920s, 9-year-old Chiyo 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, 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 35m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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