Common Sense Media Review
Gorgeous but slow-moving; inauthentic cultural portrayals.
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Memoirs of a Geisha
What's the Story?
In MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA, Sayuri (played as an adult by Ziyi Zhang) is sold by her poor family to a geisha house, or okiya, when she's just 9. Her blue eyes make her look "special," and Hatsumomo (Gong Li) is immediately jealous, threatening the child. Luckily, a kind mentor named Mameha (Michelle Yeoh) takes Sayuri under her wing as they embark on Sayuri's glamorous yet sometimes dehumanizing journey to becoming a renowned geisha. In a society where sex is the ultimate commodity, Sayuri must safeguard her yearning for the wealthy Chairman (Ken Watanabe), whom she'd met as a child and has loved ever since.
Is It Any Good?
Less intriguing than it promises, this film leaves little to the imagination with its series of heavy-handed set pieces. Based on Arthur Golden's novel and directed by the dramatically unsubtle Rob Marshall, Memoirs of a Geisha is disappointingly predictable, unwieldy, and exotified.
This is by no means the fault of the performers, who commit to their roles. The women are stunning, although one wishes their spoken English, inflected with overtly Chinese accents, was simply swapped for Japanese -- both in language and in casting. And even though it's great to see a female-driven film, the geisha whose memoirs the viewer is meant to follow isn't so much remembered as she is conjured and undermined, repeatedly.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Memoirs of a Geisha's portrayal of life in this profession. How does the film Westernize its characters and story? Does it fall into the trap of making Japan seem "exotic"? Are there stereotypes in the film about Japanese people?
Sayuri falls in love the the adult Chairman when she's 9 years old. Does this age difference affect how you feel about their relationship? Is it ethical for the Chairman to engage in this romance after he'd sponsored Sayuri's apprenticeship to become a geisha?
Are the women in this film strong? Why, or why not? Are their relationships realistic, or do they seem exaggerated to make for an exciting story?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 9, 2005
- On DVD or streaming : March 28, 2006
- Cast : Gong Li , Michelle Yeoh , Zhang Ziyi , Ken Watanabe
- Director : Rob Marshall
- Inclusion Information : Gay Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Asian Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Columbia Tristar
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Book Characters , History
- Run time : 143 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : mature subject matter and some sexual content.
- Awards : Golden Globe - Golden Globe Award Winner , NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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