Memoirs of a Geisha is based on the novel of the same tittle by author Arthur Golden. The D.O.P for this movie is Dion Beebe. This movie is not only one of my personal favorite but also a great movie that really deserves all the praises that are not only for the cinematography. In my personal opinion it deserves praises for: Costume, Writing, and most of all an amazing plot. I’ve seen this movie many times through out the years seeing as how it premiered in 2005. What’s funny now though is to see it in a completely new perspective, in a perspective that includes watching the movie and looking for key moments, or scenes that are so beautifully crafted and put together, and how Cinematography is responsible for. Some key examples of these are:

When the movie starts, the audience automatically sees the setting being established, with dark long shots of rain and the fishing villages that the main character Chiyo is from. This scene is important because it shows her roots, it shows what this grand Geisha now named Sayuri, that was once named Chiyo came from dark and poor beginnings. I love this scene because immediately the traditional Japanese music is heard in the background and an old an withered voice, that one can only assume is the Geisha.

Another shot is and over the shoulder shot of when the character of “Mother” or Ms. Nitta is introduced and she is smoking while looking at the new member of the house little Chiyo. Not only does this show her as mysterious, but immediately in my opinion the role of the person with power in Chiyo’s life is established.

The final shot I want to talk about is when the movie is coming to an end, Chiyo (now named Sayuri and a full Geisha) has found the Chairman, she has finally done everything she has ever dreamed of and everything is solve. The shot is of them two walking side by side and beside them is a pond and there is a reflection of them and everything surrounding them (flowers trees). Finally the dark past is left behind, and a more promising future is ahead for Sayuri. This is a full shot of her kimono the pond reflecting her and the flowers and trees and just the tranquility of it, but suddenly as they’re walking from below a shot of a much younger Sayuri running down the temple of where she first wished for her hardships to end and to become a Geisha, cuts in. After this the movie ends.
I think this is a perfect and brilliant scene because not only was it so carefully shot but also, it shows the audiences of the characters growth, of the contrast of her being young and lost, and now grown and a woman of such honor. It has a mood of nostalgia but also looking forwards at an unknown future.

Overall I think this movie is amazing, and everything is blended so well together. All this years I thought it was good because of the drama, but now I see how just the cinematography, makes so much more.