MOVIE REVIEWS
Memoirs of a Geisha
Matt Jameson
Okay, so I bought into the hype and rented this film. So many things pointed to it being a great film, from the cast and director to the cinematography it seemed like a sure winner. And I must admit for the most part it was. So why did it receive so many bad reviews? I chalk it up to simple American ignorance.
Given the fact that most American men believe that the term geisha and working girl mean the same thing, it was no wonder that so many men left disappointed. So to avoid disappointing any more of you guys out there I’ll say this now this is not a sexy movie. In fact I don’t recall seeing any nudity at all. What this is, is an inside look into the hidden and long past world of the geisha. So unless you are looking for a dramatic and sometimes incredibly sad story leave this one on the shelf.
It’s an introspective look at the life of a girl who is sold by her father into slavery as her mother becomes ill and unable to care for her and her sister. This girl and her sister are quickly separated and adopted into different houses ultimately determining their fate. The main character is taken in by a woman who runs a geisha school and is reluctantly trained in the art of being geisha.
As her life develops and follows its unusual path, she eventually becomes the schools most talented geisha. Drawing jealousy from many and adoration from few as she lives under the strict lock and key of the geisha house, and must forgo her love of a man whom she only knows from a few brief encounters. As her life becomes more and more controlled, she struggles with the emotional turmoil of her predetermined lifestyle and the life she truly longs for. Eventually cut short by the war, her career as a geisha becomes little more than a memory as her house is taken over by American troops and its former residents forced to retreat into the mountains in order to survive.
After leaving the unusual and hidden world of the geisha behind, she must now attempt to become her former self in order to secure a business deal that would mean a bright future for herself and others who have now returned. Internal struggle and emotional resolution are the two main themes that run throughout the film. The story is powerful and potent with an unspoken charm seldom seen in modern films, and is superbly acted all around. It develops in such a way that draws the audience in while allowing the individual viewer to connect with the main character in a very personal way. My only complaint with the film is that portions of the story are hard to follow, mainly due to so many characters that have but brief parts on screen and then vanish as quickly as they came.
But all in all the film is very powerful and moving, and delivers exactly what it promises. Not a movie for those who are looking for some light entertainment, but a great film for those looking for a complex film that would ultimately make anyone feel better about the freedom we sometimes take for granted in our daily lives. Consider it an 8 out of 10, and a shining example of cinematic art.
