MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA Begins Filming in Los Angeles

Originally Published: October 26 , 2004

MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA, based on the internationally acclaimed best-seller by ARTHUR GOLDEN, has begun filming in Los Angeles under the direction of ROB MARSHALL, who was nominated for an Academy Award for his adaptation of CHICAGO. In addition to locations in the LA area, Memoirs will film in Japan and Northern California. The film’s stellar ensemble cast includes ZHANG ZIYI (CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON, HERO) in the title role, opposite Oscar nominee KEN WATANABE (THE LAST SAMURAI) as the man she loves. GONG LI (RAISE THE RED LANTERN), MICHELL YEOH (also from CROUCHING TIGER), KOJI YAKUSHO (SHALL WE DANCE?) and YOUKI KUDOH (SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS) also star in leading roles.

Produced by LUCY FISHER, DOUGLAS WICK and STEVEN SPIELBERG, the Columbia Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures and Spyglass Entertainment project also boasts an award-winning team of behind-the-scenes artists including many of Marshall’s key CHICAGO collaborators. The screen adaptation was written by RON BASS, AKIVA GODSMAN, ROBIN SWICORD and DOUG WRIGHT.

Set in a mysterious exotic world, which 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 maid in a geisha house. Despite a treacherous rival who nearly breaks her spirit, the girl blossoms into the legendary geisha SAYURI. 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.