I did not see this film on the horizon til this week when I saw a trailer for it on Yahoo. I soon realized, much to my surprise again, that it stars the same remarkable actresses from the masterful Ang Lee film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Yes, I’m speaking of Ziyi Zhang (also of last year’s extraordinary films Hero and House of Flying Daggers, which garnered her a British Best Actress Oscar nomination) and Michelle Yeoh. It also stars Oscar-nominated Ken Watanabe (The Last Samurai).
Memoirs of a Geisha is directed by Rob Marshall (Chicago). Being released in December, this film has Oscar written all over it.
Memoirs is the story of a nine-year-old girl named Chiyo who is sold to a geisha house in Kyoto's Gion district and subjected to cruel treatment from the owners. Her stunning beauty, however, attracts the jealousy of Hatsumomo, which causes Hatsumomo's rival, Mameha, to notice her too. Mameha mentors Chiyo in the art of geisha. Chiyo soon enters the world of the wealthy, mingling with the privileged and politically powerful. As World War II looms, Chiyo's world (along with her country) is forever changed by the onslaught of history.
View the trailer for yourself here.
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