The Geisha

Sep 10, 1983

2h 24m

★ 5.5

Overview

Yokiro was the most successful Geisha house in Western Japan during the first half of the 20th century and remains open to this day. At its peak, it was home to over 200 geisha, however behind the fabulous facade, there were many battles - between family members, men and women, and with the Yakuza. Momokawa was sold to Yokiro at age 12, and despite being the top geisha, her many complicated relationships provide unending challenges throughout her glamorous but turbulent life.

Genres

Drama

Romance

War

Production Companies

Toei Company

Haiyuza Eiga Hoso Company

The Geisha Trailers

Cast

Katsuzo

Ken Ogata

Momowaka

Kimiko Ikegami

Osodé

Mitsuko Baisho

Tamako

Atsuko Asano

Maruko

Akiko Kana

Asao Koike

Kochi Notable

Tetsuro Tamba

Mikio Narita

Morio Kazama

Sayoko Ninomiya

Kazuo Kitamura

Meichō Soganoya

Set in the late 1950s, when geisha culture was threatened by moral crusades, it tells the story of Omocha (Miyamoto Maki), a young girl who sees the geisha life as a way to lift her poverty-stricken family from their hand-to-mouth existence. Through her eyes, we see the protocols and complex financial relationships which dictate the running of the geisha house. Fukasaku's film is a work of great delicacy with moments of hypnotic beauty, and his tender direction, often touched with a sense of wonder, fills the screen with lovingly constructed scenes. At its heart is the poignant situation of the women who must sacrifice their normal relationships to live an ambiguous life in which they are a key part of society while being kept, for the most part, on its periphery, like perpetual mistresses.

7.3

Late Chrysanthemums

Jun 15, 1954

With delicate, unobtrusive strokes, Naruse evokes both the humor and bitterness of his characters’ dilemmas, in this bleak, compelling poignant portrait of a quartet of aging geishas contemplating their troubles with men and money.

6.7

My Geisha

Mar 9, 1962

Famed movie director Paul Robaix breaks with tradition by not casting his actress-comedienne wife, Lucy Dell, in his latest film production, a version of Madame Butterfly. Undaunted, the resourceful Lucy wings her way to Tokyo and, masquerading as a Japanese geisha, lands the coveted role from her unsuspecting husband! But in front of the cameras (and behind the pancake makeup), Lucy faces greater challenges: her lecherous leading man - and a husband who is beginning to realize that his talented new "discovery" seems vaguely familiar...

5.2

Madame Butterfly

Dec 30, 1932

Pinkerton marries Cho-Cho San in Japan, whilst on shore leave. When he leaves, she keeps his Japanese home as he left it. He returns three years later, having married again in America, and tells Cho-Cho that their affair is over. She has had a child in his absence, who is sent to her family, before she kills herself.

7.4

A Geisha's Diary

Jul 28, 1961

A young girl is rigorously trained in the feminine arts so that she can become a geisha. As she struggles through life, she learns to live not just as a woman but as a complete person.

7.2

Lady Maiko

Sep 13, 2014

Country bumpkin Haruko only ever wanted to become a maiko, an apprentice geisha. Initially rebuffed for lack of references, Haruko's strong accent intrigues a linguistics professor, who undertakes to coach her.

0.0

Ginza Midnight Story — Utopia 2

Aug 25, 2000

In a continuation of "Utopia: Midnight Story, White Flower Bud" Haruka Ichijou follows through in her vow to become the No1 Geisha. She develops intricate schemes and mindful manipulations in changing her "Papa-san's," or Sugar Daddies, on her way up the modern geisha ladder. After she pits one against the other, the men begin to compete for her in elaborate and very expensive ventures, and their fight to win her for their prize in all-consuming frenzy becomes the focus for the No1 Spot. A barrage of young geisha's karate fighting seals their fate at last!

7.5

A Geisha

Aug 12, 1953

Fleeing a distressing family situation, Eiko, a very young girl, becomes an apprentice to Miyoharu, a veteran geisha. Both, determined to preserve their professional integrity, must face the selfishness and ambition of several petty people.

7.1

Flowing

Nov 20, 1956

Otsuta is running the geisha house Tsuta in Tokyo. Her business is heavily in debt. Her daughter Katsuyo doesn't see any future in her mother's trade in the late days of Geisha. But Otsuta will not give up. This film portraits the day time life of geisha when not entertaining customers.

5.5

A Woman Called Sada Abe

Feb 8, 1975

The young and beautiful Sada Abe, the daughter of a rich merchant, is banished for losing her virginity after being raped by a college student. Sada wanders the city, becoming a geisha and eventually meeting Kichizo, a posh restaurateur who falls under her spell. Together, they embark on a week-long sexual escapade filled with dangerous obsessions. Their complete descent into each others desires culminates in a shocking crime of passion which captures the city's headlines. Based on a real event from 1936.

6.9

Apart from You

Apr 1, 1933

An aging geisha, whose angry teenage son is ashamed of her profession, works alongside a young geisha, resentful of her family for forcing her into a life of ignominy.

6.6

A Courtesan with Flowered Skin

Nov 8, 2014

Japan around 1860: popular courtesan Asagiri will be freed soon from her service, yet she cannot imagine any other existence. Until one day at a local festival, Asagiri meets the young artisan Hanjiro by chance – an encounter that changes her destiny. With a strong performance by leading actress Yumi ADACHI and exquisite camerawork and production design, A COURTESAN WITH FLOWERED SKIN succeeds in recalling the golden age of Japanese erotic film.

2.0

Hot Spring Geisha Pillow Performance in a Touring Tour Room

May 1, 2015

Shizuku and Tamami are geisha in Atami who are rivals at the same okiya (tea house). Shizuku is a miser who will use any tool necessary to get what she wants, including sex. On the other hand, Tamami believes in doing things the traditional way, with class. With opposing personalities, these two are always at each other’s throats. Tamami continues to blame herself for her mother’s suicide while Shizuku never knew parental love and doesn’t have good luck with men. Learning each other’s past, the two seem to have built a strong bond… that is until Kenzo, the event producer of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics comes to Atami. Kenzo will be making a movie about traditional Japanese culture for PR and would like to have either Shizuku or Tamami in it. Tamami sees this as an opportunity to fulfill her dead mother’s dreams, while Shizuku sees this as a path to getting rich. The two compete for who will get the contract for this dream opportunity.

7.1

Sisters of the Gion

Oct 15, 1936

Umekichi, a geisha in the Gion district of Kyoto, feels obliged to help her lover Furusawa when he asks to stay with her after becoming bankrupt and leaving his wife. However her younger sister Omocha tells her she is wasting her time and money on a loser. She thinks that they should both find wealthy patrons to support them. Omocha therefore tries various schemes to get rid of Furusawa, and set themselves up with better patrons.

5.6

Inferno of Torture

May 2, 1969

Japan nineteenth century. High demand for tattooed geisha generates an entire industry for their "production". Europeans pay more for tattooed beauties. Against this background, and considering the gorgeous tattooed women develop the history of confrontation between two highly skilled masters of tattoo.

6.1

Ginza Cosmetics

Apr 14, 1951

A luckless geisha struggles to make a living for herself and her young son.