Review of Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) by Julie A — 23 Dec 2009

As I said before, I love shows and movies setted in Asia (China, Japan and India), like "The Last Samurai" starring Tom Cruise, and setted in Japan, and the Chinese film "Ying xiong" or "Hero." And I also love an excellent Romance film...I know I'm a hopeless romantic. And to me, the Cinderella-type romances are the best to me.

During the childhood parts of the film, I would feel sorry for Chyio. She and her sister Satsu are sold by her fisherman father to a Geisha house in Miyako. Satsu is not accepted in the house and is sent to a brothel, and along the years, Satsu escapes from the brothel where she lived and the rebel Chyio is left alone, becoming a slave of a geisha. However, six years later, she learns how to become the geisha Sayuri with the support of the successful Mameha (I like the sound of her name), while fighting against the evil and jealousy of the wicked Hatsumomo. While still a child, Chyio falls in love with The Chairman, and in the post-WWII, they meet each other, in a period of changes in Japan with the occupying American forces and the country completely destroyed.

I never like Hatsumomo, she's an evil little cow and a b***h! But I do love our Chyio, Pumpkin when she and Chiyo were friends as kids, but during the war years well...people sure change these years; and Mameha, who needs a Fairy Godmother when you got her. I also love Chiyo/Saiyuri's romance with her beloved Chairman; no name or surname, just...The Chairman.