"Memoirs of a Geisha" in Japan

[mark schilling]

Jason,

In the Japanese poster, Sayuri lowers her eyes demurely -- no flashing of
the baby blues, which would probably weird out more people here that it
would entice.

Here's a link to the Japanese website:
http://www.movies.co.jp/sayuri/index.html

It also struck me as passing strange that Sayuri never has a relationship
with a guy her own age -- from that fateful childhood encounter on, it's the
Chairman and only the Chairman, played by the same actor, with the same
middle-aged look, from beginning to end. In Hollywood movies May-September
romances are common enough -- see Richard Gere's recent films for examples
(including Marshall's "Chicago") -- but I wonder how Japanese audiences,
used to seeing May-May combinations in junai ("pure love") TV dramas and
films, will react to Zhang's teenage character carrying a torch for a man
old enough to be her father? True, Watanabe is not the typical 47-year-old
ojisan -- but would anyone in Japan cast him opposite a hot twentysomething
actress in a love story? It's not impossible, but I think that, given a
choice, producers would rather go with Odagiri Jo.

Mark Schilling
schill at gol.com


Mark,

Having Zhang maintain a pure, virginal burning flame in Sayuri clashes
with other elements of the film. The use an older woman's voice for the
narration is meant to convey Sayuri as a strong survivor, yet by
keeping up her virginal demeanor, Sayuri doesn't mature much from her
childhood days. Suzuka Ohgo's Chiyo has more moxie than Zhang's Sayuri.

Plus, how can anyone virginal concoct a scheme of using a tryst with an
American to disgust Nobu? Sayuri's plan is perhaps the only active
choice she makes. Comparing her character to the element of water ?
which carves its own path ? makes little sense when she is more like a
floating weed in the film, manipulated by just about every other major
character.

The water analogy may be the most offensive aspect of the movie, since
the filmmakers decided to give Sayuri blue-rimmed irises. They are
especially prominent in the portrait of Zhang used on posters for the
film. What does the poster in Japan look like?

Jason Chau


On Friday, December 9, 2005, at 09:41  PM, mark schilling wrote:

> 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