← Back to results
Memoirs of a Geisha
2005 146 min United States of America PG-13 18+
★7.3
Drama, Romance, History
Director: Rob Marshall
🎭 Based on
«Memoirs of a Geisha»
byArthur Golden
Trailers
EN
EN
EN
Description
In the years before World War II, a penniless Japanese child is torn from her family to work as a maid in a geisha house.
Budget:
$85M
US Gross:
$57.49M
Worldwide:
$162.24M
Starring
Ziyi Zhang
Actor
Ken Watanabe
Actor
Michelle Yeoh
Actor
Awards
Golden Globe 2006
— Best Original Score
Academy Awards 2006
— Best Cinematography
Academy Awards 2006
— Best Costume Design
Academy Awards 2006
— Best Sound
Academy Awards 2006
— Best Costume Design
Academy Awards 2006
— Best Sound Editing
Screen Actors Guild Awards 2006
— Best Actress
BAFTA 2006
— Best Cinematography
BAFTA 2006
— Best Costume Design
MTV Movie & TV Awards 2006
— Sexiest Performance
BAFTA 2006
— Best Actress
BAFTA 2006
— Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Academy Awards 2006
— Best Production Design
Golden Globe 2006
— Best Actress (Drama)
BAFTA 2006
— Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music
BAFTA 2006
— Best Production Design
Key opinion
Memoirs of a Geisha is widely praised as a visually arresting and atmospheric masterpiece that succeeds as a romantic drama. However, it faces sharp criticism for historical inaccuracies, casting choices, and its abbreviated adaptation of the source novel, leaving viewers divided between those who value its aesthetic beauty and those who prioritize narrative and cultural fidelity.
| Production | The film features breathtaking production design, authentic costume work, and striking cinematography that successfully cultivate a captivating, immersive atmosphere. | |
| Score | John Williams' evocative score blends traditional Japanese instrumentation with Western orchestral elements to create a powerful, emotional soundscape. | |
| Acting | Performances by Zhang Ziyi and Gong Li provide compelling, emotionally resonant portrayals that anchor the story despite some viewers' focus on the non-Japanese casting. | |
| Adaptation | Opinions on the screenplay are divided: fans appreciate the poetic, romanticized narrative, while critics argue it overly simplifies or distorts the source material, resulting in an incoherent plot. | |
| Culture | Disagreement exists regarding cultural authenticity; some viewers celebrate the film's artistic depiction of geisha life, while others condemn its historical inaccuracies and westernized perspective. |