Memoirs of a Geisha
2005
***½
Director: Rob Marshall
Cast: Ziyi Zhang, Michelle Yeoh, Ken Watanabe, Koji Yakusho, Li Gong
A sumptuous adaptation of Arthur Golden's bestseller about one woman's journey from an enslaved young girl to the most celebrated geisha in Japan. The story is moving and enlightening, and there are some strong performances (Li Gong is a standout as an experienced geisha who feels her place is threatened). However, some parts feel rushed (WW2) and I cannot escape the feeling of compromised authenticity while watching the Asian cast struggle with their English. This winner of three visual Oscars (art direction, costumes and cinematography) is obviously easy on the eye.
