Memoirs of a Geisha

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Papewaio 02:35 01-13-2006

I have just seen the trailers for it... and realised that the 3 lead Geisha are all Silk Screen actresses... all Chinese playing Japanese Geisha in the movie adaptation of a book about traditional Japanese women written by a modern western man.

Still the movie trailer looks good and the actresses can perform well in English.

Is there not enough Japanese actresses of sufficient talent who can also speak English who would want to be in a Hollywood movie?

Xiahou 03:03 01-13-2006

Originally Posted by Papewaio:
Is there not enough Japanese actresses of sufficient talent who can also speak English who would want to be in a Hollywood movie?

From what I heard, that was indeed the case if you believe the movie's producers. I also understand using Chinese women as Geishas in the movie caused quite a stir with some Chinese people.

AntiochusIII 03:13 01-13-2006

Strangely enough the movie was well-received in Japan, where fears that the Japanese people would "shun" the movie where Japanese are being played by Chinese existed before the movie's premier.

The Japanese might also have the detriment of being overwhelmed by MTV-Engrish a long time ago, resulting in Japanese people speaking a mixture of traditional Engrish from the usual "lost in translation" cross of cultures and even further screwed up Hip Hop-Engrish, therefore reducing the pool of Japanese actresses that can fluently speak English properly...

j/k

econ21 03:18 01-13-2006

Originally Posted by Papewaio:
Is there not enough Japanese actresses of sufficient talent who can also speak English who would want to be in a Hollywood movie?

This was the lead story in a UK Sunday newspaper magazine (Sunday Times?). It said that Japan did not have any actresses with the international reputation of the three Chinese stars. But also that people in Japan are not that interested in the film (being written by a Western man etc).

To be fair - as you suggest - the three leads are all extremely talented. I have zero interest in the theme of the film, but am rather taken with the idea of watching that trio perform.

The Chinese film industry seems to be producing a lot of talent of late - acting, directing etc - and I suspect it may be second only to that of the US. Japan does not seem to have produced much of general acclaim recently.

More generally, isn't the point of being an actor to act something other than what one is? If I were casting a movie, I'd hire the best actor and only use their passport as a tie-breaker.

solypsist 03:52 01-13-2006

i have a serious bia against this movie.

i read and liked the book.

but having lived in japan i find it difficult to accept the movie based on the reasons the producers gave.

Strike For The South 05:49 01-13-2006

Correct me if Im wrong (and I probably am) but arent Geshias like high class hookers?

GoreBag 06:03 01-13-2006

Originally Posted by strike for the south:
Correct me if Im wrong (and I probably am) but arent Geshias like high class hookers?

Geisha. There's no plural form in Japanese.

Divinus Arma 06:08 01-13-2006

I heard that this movie was great. Kinda slow for this topic. Wasn't this movie released a little while ago?

Papewaio 08:00 01-13-2006

Staggered release world wide... opens here next week.

Also the crux of the issue, is there a lack of english speaking japanese actresses of sufficient talent and/or does hollywood not really care about details?

Just A Girl 08:04 01-13-2006

Originally Posted by strike for the south:
Correct me if Im wrong (and I probably am) but arent Geshias like high class hookers?

Dint you ever play STW?
In stw there Kick ass assasins!!!!

Byzantine Prince 08:39 01-13-2006

Originally Posted by strike for the south:
Correct me if Im wrong (and I probably am) but arent Geshias like high class hookers?

Geishas were japanese hostesses with a ghigh level of education and also skill in dancing and other art that were there to "entertain". A lot of them were indeed prostitutes.

Sartaq 09:43 01-13-2006

According to some books I've read, Geisha did (do) many, many things.

Goofball 19:18 01-13-2006

Originally Posted by Papewaio:
Staggered release world wide... opens here next week.

Another benefit of being Canadian: we get to see movies a few weeks ahead of Americans. I don't know the reasoning behind that. Perhaps we're viewed as a sort of a test market for the U.S.

Anyway, my wife (who read the book first) saw the movie last week and she said it was excellent.

Don Corleone 20:09 01-13-2006

I always thought geisha did everything BUT sex. I thought they were there to act as a hostess: serve a meal, discuss things important to the man (business, politics, his accomplishments), sing, dance, maybe draw a bath and wash the guy (which oddly, is not a sexually charged act in Japan) but no nookie.

Watchman 20:16 01-13-2006

Although I've read that rich & powerful codgers every now and then happen to have a geisha as a mistress - but then again, "he looked quite dashing with his pockets on" is a well-known phenomenom all over the world.

Lazul 11:14 01-14-2006

*gets a horrific vision* What if Danes play Swedes in a movie... *shivers*

Ironside 14:15 01-14-2006

Originally Posted by Lazul:
*gets a horrific vision* What if Danes play Swedes in a movie... *shivers*

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