Memoirs of a Geisha Controversy

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Chinese Geisha

Published

by

on December 24, 2005

in Film and Japan

.

…don’t exist. It therefore might seem rather controversial that the ethereal Zhang Ziyi plays one in the cinematic adaptation of Arthur Golden’s bestselling novel “Memoirs of a Geisha“. Indeed the decision to cast her and Michelle Yeoh as Japanese has raised a few eyebrows with some describing it as a refusal to recognise the diversity of Asian cultures and others mistaking Geisha for prostitutes.

Personally I believe that this has got more to do with ignorance and underlying racism than anything else. I’ve not read the book or seen the film yet so I can’t really comment on its contents but surfficed to say those who have are not being overly negative in this way.

Zhang Ziyi

I guess the only thing which might annoy me is that it’s been made as an English speaking film but then again the book was written by an American and it would have had little chance of being a mainstream hit if it was done in Japanese.

Zhang Ziyi

This is one film I can’t wait to see in the New Year!

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8 Responses to “Chinese Geisha” Feed for this Entry Trackback Address

1 Donna

December 25, 2005 at 8:31 am

As I know there is no such a job as Geisha in China, play a japanese geisha in the movie is personal action of Ms.Zhang Ziyi, I think the title will lead to some misunderstanding.

2 David

December 25, 2005 at 11:23 pm

Yep, ignorance is a funny thing!

3 Alan

January 31, 2006 at 9:10 am

Many critics have mentioned the fact this is a Chinese actress playing a Japanese character. But how is this different from other movies where a white man plans a Native American… or a Mexican, etc? Perhaps the only difference is in today's progressive society the filmmakers should “know better”. But when money/marketing speaks… is there a Japanese actress who is as good marketable?

4 JANELLE

April 10, 2007 at 3:42 pm

The fact that these actresses have trained and brought themselves to a point in their careers that they can play in major hollywood movies is exceptional. Instead of being praised for their accomplishments they are being criticized. I feel that they should be proud and move to acquire more films under their belt. The fact that they could not find a japanese actress experienced enough to play the part just says that all asian actresses must step up their game if they want to star in american movies….we are so over the age of subtitles

5 koishii

June 1, 2007 at 5:00 am

one word - koyuki

she was really good in Last Samurai…

She sould've made an excellent choice for any one of the 3 major Geishas.

6 John G

August 21, 2007 at 9:14 pm

I'll have to agree with Koishii.

It needs to be tempered with what Alan says though as well. It doesn't really matter who plays the part but more how. Zhang Ziyi nails the part and shows more her talent, poise, and beauty than her country of birth, race, anything else.

We are very hung up on political correctness, which may be rooted in how political our actors and actresses have become. For me, this part -lives- on the screen and it also ends at the credits. Nothing more really needs to be said aside from it's simply beautiful.

Other actresses could have been picked, but I'm glad they went with who they did. I can only say that however, because I didn't get to see the version with Koyuki playing the lead! She would have been stunning in the role too I'm sure.

7 David

August 21, 2007 at 9:39 pm

I totally agree. At the end of the day a film is creating a fiction, and unless you are portraying it as historical fact the story you tell and the people who portray the characters are fairly irrelevant. Zhang Ziyi executes the role exceptionally which is all that matters really.

8 Katsushika

June 16, 2008 at 11:43 pm

Hi im Katsushika Matsuyama ( thats of course not my real name just my nickname), and i have studied the lives, tradition, custom and i can say everithing about the geisha for i can say 4 years now.
i had read the book and seen the film, and a have to agree with the ones who say they should have paid attention to the customs, and almos everything. if a look at the film adeptly i would say they [edit] up the whole story. if i look at the film as an ordinary women i say it so beautiful and sad and etc.
you have to know that word to see the wrongs in that film.
it is more for the show.
about the actors, they only searched for asian actors who speak english, and thats why there are so many many chinese in this film about a unequivocally japanese story. yeah there is ken watanabe there, but they has stolen the idea from the last samurai.and i agree with Koishii too because the are a lot of good japanese actresses, they just didnt look for them.thats all.
Tom Cruise at least gone to Japan to make a film about something japan.
And for the audio, or stubtitle, Janerre, there are a lot of other countries outside of america, and this may be a hollywood movie, its still about a japanese world.not everything is america. im for example is from Hungary.
so thats what i wanted to tell.
bye
by: Katsu

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