My world is as forbidden as it is fragile; without its mysteries, it cannot survive.|Dec. 06, 2005|France | Japan | United States|146 Min.|PG-13
Genre: Drama;History;Romance
Description: In 1929, Chiyo Sakamoto and her older sister Satsu are sold by their impoverished father and taken to Gion, Kyoto. Chiyo is brought to Kayoko Nitta, known as “Mother,” who runs a local okiya. Satsu, deemed unattractive, is sent to a brothel. At the okiya, Chiyo meets “Granny,” “Auntie,” Pumpkin, another young girl, and Hatsumomo, the resident geisha.
Chiyo and Pumpkin begin their training to become geisha. Hatsumomo, viewing Chiyo as a rival, mistreats her. Hoping Chiyo will flee, Hatsumomo reveals Satsu’s location in the red-light district. The sisters plan to escape, but Chiyo falls and injures herself during the attempt. As punishment, Mother stops funding Chiyo’s geisha training and forces her to work as a servant to repay her debts. Satsu escapes Kyoto, and Chiyo never sees her again.
One day, while crying by a river, Chiyo meets Chairman Ken Iwamura. He comforts her with a shaved ice treat, a handkerchief, and some money. Inspired by his kindness, Chiyo vows to become a geisha to enter the Chairman’s life.
Years later, Pumpkin debuts as a maiko under Hatsumomo’s guidance. Meanwhile, Chiyo catches the attention of Mameha, a renowned geisha, who convinces Mother to resume Chiyo’s training, promising double repayment. Chiyo becomes a maiko named Sayuri and reconnects with the Chairman at a sumo match, though she also attracts the interest of his business partner, Toshikazu Nobu.
With Mameha’s support and despite Hatsumomo’s schemes, Sayuri’s popularity grows, drawing the admiration of influential men like Dr. Crab and the Baron, Mameha’s danna.
Cast director: Rob Marshall
Cast actor: Zhang Ziyi, Gong Li, Michelle Yeoh, Ken Watanabe, Suzuka Ohgo, Kaori Momoi, Koji Yakusho, Youki Kudoh, Togo Igawa, Mako
Original name: Memoirs of a Geisha