A golden olden, by – appropriately named – Arthur Golden. The film adaptation of Memoirs of a Geisha was first released in late 2005, based on Golden’s best-selling novel of the same title. Unlike many novel-based films, this one certainly does the book justice. With the superb direction from Rob Marshall, the film takes place in Japan and centres on the life of a girl named Chiyo, whose poor family sells her to a geisha house (okiya) in Gion. Her sister, Satsu, is less fortunate, and, not being beautiful enough to have a promising future as a geisha, is forced into a life of prostitution as a mere teenager. Chiyo first enters the okiya as a pre-pubescent girl, and thus has to work as a servant until she comes of age. With her unusual yet beautiful ‘water-like’ eyes, the women who run the okiya are certain that Chiyo will become a successful geisha, and will offer her the adequate training on the condition that she works hard and behaves well while under their care. The leading geisha at the okiya, however, takes an intense disliking towards Chiyo, manipulating her and abusing her ruthlessly, which prompts Chiyo to run away from the okiya. Her attempt is unsuccessful, and as a result she is condemned to life as a servant. Is Chiyo able to escape this sentence? Does she reunite with her family? Does she find the love that she seeks so desperately? Well, I hardly think I’m going to spoil it all and tell you the ending – go find out for yourselves! You won’t regret it; I give Memoirs of a Geisha 4 stars.
