"Memoirs of a Geisha" in Japan

[mark schilling]

Dear Jason Chau,

The version I saw was subbed, the Japanese trailer is subbed and there is no
mention on the Japanese website of a dubbed version. Am I missing something?

Interesting how Kudoh's Pumpkin suddenly springs to life when she becomes a
"pan pan" girl -- and how devitalized Zhang's postwar Sayuri looks by
comparison. It's clear that Marshall "gets" the former character -- who is
as American ( or rather Americanized) as cherry Coke -- far better than the
Orientalist fantasy that is Sayuri.

Zhang Ziyi was totally different in "2046" -- slithery and sexy as hell. But
in "Memoirs" she has to keep that pure, virginal flame burning for the
Chairman -- while letting Gong supply most of the erotic fire (and literal
fire as well).

Best,
Mark Schilling


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Hon Wa Chau" <itchy008 at allvantage.com>
To: <KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu>
Sent: Saturday, December 10, 2005 3:30 PM
Subject: "Memoirs of a Geisha" in Japan


> Mark,
>
> I read in the LA Times that "Memoirs of a Geisha" will be released
> dubbed in Japan. Did you see the dubbed version?
>
> One interesting aspect of the use of English in the film is the change
> in the way Pumpkin speaks after the arrival of the Americans.
> Instead of speaking with an accent and in a kind of
> Charlie-Chan-reading-fortune-cookies kind of way, she switches to
> American vernacular after the Americans arrive in Japan. Her
> personality changes at that time as well.
>
>
> Jason Chau
>