Memoirs of a geisha [videorecording] / Columbia Pictures, Dreamworks Pictures, Spyglass Entertainment present ; an Amblin Entertainment/Red Wagon Entertainment production ; directed by Rob Marshall ; screenplay by Robin Swicord ; produced by Lucy Fisher & Douglas Wick, Steven Spielberg ; a Rob Marshall film.
Based on the book by Arthur Golden. Ziyi Zhang (Sayuri), Ken Watanabe (Chairman), Michelle Yeoh (Mameha), Koji Yakusho (Nobu), Youki Kudoh (Pumpkin), Kaori Momoi (Mother), Tsai Chin (Auntie), Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (The Baron), Suzuka Ohgo (Chiyo), Gong Li (Hatsumomo). Originally produced as a motion picture in 2005. Special features: Disc 1: Commentary with Rob Marshall and John DeLuca [audio only]; Commentary with Colleen Atwood (costumes), John Myhre (production designer) and Pietro Scalia (editor) [audio only]; Previews (8 min.); Disc 2: Featurettes Sayuri's Journey (15 min.); The Road to Japan (6 min.); Geisha Boot Camp (12 min.); Building the Hanamachi (13 min.); The Look of a Geisha (16 min.); The Music of "Memoirs" (10 min.); A Geisha's Dance (8 min.); The Way of the Sumo (6 min.); Rob Marshall, Director (10 min.); A Day with Chef Nobu Matsuhisa (10 min.); Chef Nobu's recipes [text feature]; Behind the scenes photo gallery; Costume illustrations photo gallery.
Contents:
Start -- Hanamachi -- Hatsumomo -- "You are to become geisha." -- Oath -- Search for her sister -- Over the rooftops -- Loss & purpose -- Fifteen -- Most unexpected visitor -- Moving work of art -- One look -- Sayuri -- Sumo -- Eel and the cave -- Every man's fantasy -- Cherry blossoms -- Baron's kimono -- 15,000 yen -- Hatsumomo's end -- War years -- Back to the hanamachi -- Entertaining Americans -- Hot springs -- Pumpkin's surprise -- Heart dies -- Forgiveness -- Memoirs of another kind.
Summary:
In 1929, a poor fisherman sells his 9-year-old daughter to a geisha house in Kyoto. Chiyo will be an unpaid servant until it is determined if she is beautiful enough for apprenticeship, and the house's clientèle. Run by Mother, the ruling geisha is Hatsumomo, and little Pumpkin her only friend. Trained under strict discipline for a lifetime of entertaining and flattering wealthy men, Sayuri grows up lovely, accomplished, and the target of jealous rivals. Love is no part of this cloistered world, although geisha lore hints that even if they fall in love with clients--the operative word is client, and that love is never free.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.