Memoirs of a Geisha: A Portrait of the Film
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Book Overview
A stunning visual companion to the highly anticipated new film from director Rob Marshall ( Chicago ), based on the international bestseller by Arthur Golden--a major holiday release from Columbia Pictures. Featuring over 150 full-color photographs and drawings, this lavishly illustrated book captures the artistry and romance behind the exquisite new film from Rob Marshall, the director of the Oscar(R)-winning film Chicago, starring Ziyi Zhang ( House of Flying Daggers ) and Ken Watanabe ( The Last Samurai ). Directed by Academy Award(R)-nominee Rob Marshall ( Chicago ) and produced by Lucy Fisher, Douglas Wick, and Steven Spielberg, from a screenplay by Robin Swicord and Doug Wright, Memoirs of a Geisha features an all-star Asian cast including Michelle Yeoh ( Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon ), Koji Yakusho ( Shall We Dance? ), Youki Kudoh ( Snow Falling on Cedars ), and Gong Li ( Raise the Red Lantern ). Based on the internationally acclaimed novel by Arthur Golden, Memoirs of a Geisha is a sweeping romantic epic set in the mysterious and exotic world that still casts a potent spell today. The story begins in the years before WWII when a penniless Japanese child is torn from her family to work as a servant in a geisha house. Despite a treacherous rival who nearly breaks her spirit, the girl blossoms into the legendary geisha Sayuri (Ziyi Zhang). Beautiful and accomplished, Sayuri captivates the most powerful men of her day, but is haunted by her secret love for the one man who is out of her reach (Ken Watanabe). The Newmarket Pictorial Moviebook explores the intricate process of re-creating the period and world of the geisha. Special sections showcase production design, makeup, choreography, and costumes, featuring kimonos created especially for the movie by five-time Oscar(R)-nominated costume designer Colleen Atwood. Sidebars throughout also provide fascinating historical background on the geisha culture.
Format:Hardcover
Language:English
ISBN:1557046832
ISBN13:9781557046833
Release Date:December 2005
Publisher:Newmarket Press
Length:144 Pages
Weight:2.40 lbs.
Dimensions:0.7" x 12.4" x 9.4"
Customer Reviews
5 ratings
Film Companion
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
This is an excellent companion to the film featuring stunning photography and stills. There is a nice introduction by Rob Marshall the director of Memoirs and Arthur Golden, the author of the original book. This also has a brief history of the Geisha with woodblock prints and archival images of Geisha circa 1910. There is a section at the end of the book that features the making of the movie with some behind the scenes photos, cast photos, production design, choreography, make-up, hair, and wardrobe, as well as a brief section on sumo. This book is a delicious piece of visual candy, just like the film.
Beautiful Keepsake
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
This book is a beautiful keepsake of the film. It features still photos taken from the film itself with a few off camera photos included. It would have been nice to have a fuller written text with more in-depth comments from cast and crew, so it is not as imfomative as I would have liked. However if you loved the movie, as I did, you will want to have this book.
Behind the scenes in photos and text to recreate Japan's geisha
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 18 years ago
Director Bob Marshall brought Arthur Golden's literary classic to the screen; now Peggy Mulloy's text and David James' gorgeous accompanying color photos bring MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA: A PORTRAIT OF THE FILM to the wide audience of book readers and film fans, probing behind the scenes to uncover how the filmmaker and his team re-created the geisha of Japan of the 1930s and 40s. Insights into geisha culture and screening of the movie accompany a 84-page presentation of visuals from the film in an outstanding keepsake memoir of Japanese history and culture.
In a Realm of its Own
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
There are times when still photographs from a feature film appear as self-serving PR or media hype for promoting a movie. There are other times, such as with the book based on 'Born Into Brothels' and this lovely 'Memoirs of a Geisha', when the end justifies the means. Standing alone, this is a lovely evocation of Japonoise with liquid, flowing images of geishas in costume, swirls of airborne petals, moody lighting, darkened streets - everything one imagined while reading Arthur Golden's fine novel. Of interest are the attached comments from the crew surrounding the film, sketches and extended drawings of costumes and scenery, portraits of the cast members at rest. The result is a reverie of Japan of a bygone time admixed with a recreation of a period for a film. The contrast is dramatic: the book is lovely. And I have yet to see the movie! Grady Harp, December 05
Opens Up The Appetite To See The Film
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
Arthur Golden's best-selling novel Memoirs Of A Geisha has been made into a movie and premieres nation-wide December 9th. This New Market Pictorial Movie Book is a vivid, colorful coffee-table book with photo stills from the movie, behind-the-scenes info and ancient "Floating World" illustrations of the world of the Geisha. In addition to lovely photography and artwork, we are treated to informative, brief essays about the history of the Geisha and how author Arthur Golden came to write the novel. The film looks promising. Certainly, it will be a visual feast for the eyes. The authentic locale of Japan in the 30's is gloriously rendered and the world of the Geisha, with beauty and intrigue, malice and virtue, will evidently be a thrilling cinematic experience. If you enjoyed the book, this is a terrific buy. Plus, it's jus a stunningly beautiful coffee-table book.
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