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'Memoirs of a Geisha' feels like adapted fairy tale
BY L. KENT WOLGAMOTT / Lincoln Journal Star
Friday, Dec 23, 2005 - 12:04:03 am CST

“Memoirs of a Geisha” is a gorgeous film to look at and is well acted. But it sure seems a lot like a Japanese version of “Cinderella” to me.

I’ve not read Arthur Golden’s best-selling novel on which the movie is based, but I’m sure there’s more depth and less caricature in the book than emerges on screen. That’s a common failing of attempts to translate a novel’s complex mix of characters and storylines to film. But in this case, the novel has been boiled down to a modern fairy tale.

Essentially told as a fable with voiceover narration, “Memoirs of a Geisha” is the story of Sayuri, a young Japanese girl sold by her father in 1929. Taken along with her sister to a hanamachi (geisha district), Sayuri (Ziyi Zhang) is chosen by Mother (Kaori Momoi) to enter her house, where she will work as a servant girl who might have a chance to become a geisha.

Until then, however, she is victimized by Hatsumomo (Gong Li), the beautiful high-class escort who expects to succeed Mother as the head of the geisha house. Egotistical, rule breaking and rude, she’s Cinderella’s evil stepsisters rolled into a single character.

The fairy godmother of “Memoirs of a Geisha” is legendary geisha Mameha (Michelle Yeoh), who uses a wager with Mother to become Sayuri’s mentor and prepare her to find a special patron, or danna.

A geisha is not allowed to fall in love, but Sayuri clearly loves The Chairman (Ken Watanabe) — he’s the Prince in this “Cinderella.” But his friend and colleague Nobu (Koji Yakusho) has chosen Sayuri, and a host of others are preparing to bid to take her virginity.

All of this is told with vigor by “Chicago” director Rob Marshall, who keeps Sayuri rushing from her house down the streets of the hanamachi or moving elegantly into the tea houses and sumo arenas where she meets the men who pay for her elegant company.

The storytelling works much the same way, zipping along from the teenager’s arrival through the start of World War II with barely a chance to catch your breath, much less develop much depth for the characters.

That said, the cast made up of some of Asia’s biggest stars is quite good. Zhang, who stunned in “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “House of Flying Daggers” and “2046,” gives another excellent performance, effectively conveying the emotions of a woman being trained to keep those feelings deep inside.

Similarly, Yeoh, who broke through in “Crouching Tiger” and then joined James Bond in “Tomorrow Never Dies,” conveys grace and intelligence as the experienced geisha, Li is hateable and nasty and Watanabe is perfect as the handsome prince.

All of those actors have been mentioned as possible awards nominees. More certain are nominations for costume, set design, makeup, art direction and cinematography. Put simply, “Memoirs of a Geisha” is one of the most beautiful films of the year. The hanamachi was constructed in California for great visual effect, the kimonos are striking as is the carefully done hair and makeup.

The cinematography is by Dione Beebe, who worked with director Marshall on “Chicago” and collaborates with Michael Mann on the visually driven “Collateral.”

Beebe’s work in capturing the actors and sets and creating an environment makes “Memoirs of a Geisha” worth seeing, even if the story is simply a Japanese twist on a fairy tale.

Reach L. Kent Wolgamott at 473-7244 or kwolgamott@journalstar.com.

Memoirs of a Geisha

(2½ stars)

Director: Rob Marshall

Stars: Ziyi Zhang, Michelle Yeoh, Gong Li, Ken Watanabe

Rated: PG-13 for mature subject matter and some sexual content.

Now Showing: Grand

The Reel Story: Zhang stars as a young woman who becomes a geisha in the first half of the 20th century in this gorgeous film with a plot that resembles “Cinderella.”