Thursday, January 26, 2006
Memoirs Of A Geisha
Based on the internationally acclaimed novel by Arthur Golden, "Memoirs of a Geisha" is a sweeping romantic epic set in a mysterious and exotic world that still casts a potent spell today. The story begins in the years before WWII when a penniless Japanese child is torn from her family to work as a maid in a geisha house. Despite a treacherous rival who nearly breaks her spirit, the girl blossoms into the legendary geisha Sayuri (Ziyi Zhang). Beautiful and accomplished, Sayuri captivates the most powerful men of her day, but is haunted by her secret love for the one man who is out of her reach (Ken Watanabe). (http://www.nzcinema.co.nz/movies/1283.php)On Tuesday evening, I went and watched Memoirs of A Geisha with a bunch of friends. Despite John, Mashi and Bernard being rather noisy little mice behind me, I enjoyed the movie. Being an adapted film, I was already prepared for a movie that was not up to par with the book. Let's face it... how many book-adapted films have you watched that are as good as the book? I can't think of one. Furthermore, my friend Hui Ying was quite against the movie, and as can be expected, she had read the book. (In fact, she lend me the book once. But I found the book hard to read...) However, I found the movie quite enjoyable, despite the rather anti-climatic ending.
Some people complained: "Why is the movie in English? Shouldn't it be in Japanese seeing as how it's set in Japan?"
The book was written in English by Arthur Golden. What were the director and scriptwriter going to use to base the movie's script on, were it not in English? Yes, by changing the language, the movie would seem more authentic. But the problem is, changing the language often poses a problem.. that is, taking away the essence of the story.
A major problem most people have with Memoirs is the fact that the main actresses are acted by Chinese actresses, instead of Japanese actresses.
I rather enjoy Zhang ZiYi's performance, and I found that she managed to pull off the Japanese accent quite well, although not perfectly. Although Gong Li's Chinese accent was heavy, it is undeniable that her acting far surpasses her ability to adapt a Japanese accent. I found myself wanting to hate Hatsumomo (Gong Li's character), yet empathising with her as well. Michelle Yeoh has a very standard non-accent accent, and it doesn't betray the fact that she's a Malaysian Chinese. Her role as Mameha made me admire her the way Sayuri (Zhang ZiYi) admires her. So what if the actresses aren't Japanese, and do not have Japanese accents? Their performance, not their background, should be more important in terms of evaluating the movie. Ken Watanabe, who most would remember as the noble Katsumoto from The Last Samurai, was perfect as the Chairman. Kind, compassionate, humorous, yet with a hint of sadness.
I was quite disappointed with the ending. I thought it was rather anti-climatic. Too much building up of tension, but with an unresolved ending. I think the movie might have been aiming for a dramatic ending, with its heavy statement, but they just didn't reach it quite right.
In the movie, I felt myself sympathising with Nobu-san (Koji Yakusho), whose feelings for Sayuri are unrequited. "Can't you see that I want you for myself?" I was silently laughing when 'Stottlemeyer' appeared... only Monk fans will understand. Hehe.
My favourite scene would be where the Chairman and Sayuri are standing under a cherry blossom tree, and as the flowers fall, Sayuri laughs. It is the only time I have seen Sayuri really laugh. Her laugh is reserved for the only man she loves, the Chairman, and with others, only a polite smile is offered. It is the only time I see Sayuri's guard down, when usually, she is always thinking of her next step, of what to do... all in order to be a successful geisha.
All in all, it is a beautiful and lush film. Not perfect, but enjoyable enough.
i know that i have loved you ... at 6:33 PM
fate crumbled all around 2 comments
fate crumbled all around 2 comments