I'm not getting involved with the more controversial issue involved here but I saw this coming after the casting was announced. No offense to Zhang Ziyi but surely they could get Japanese actresses to play her role which is a plenty. I even thought Yukie Nakama (she played Sadako in The Ring 0) would have been the perfect choice.

Like I stated before. All Asian people are the same, in the eyes of Hollywood, but you can't possibly expect the same attitude in Asia.

Hollywood should realize that deep down chinese and japanese people have a dislike towards eachother. It's all in the historybooks.

I loved the look of the trailer. It's to bad that it is getting bad press. But I can see why people would be upset. But I have always felt as an actor you should be able to play any part. Then again, I am a white female. Who is pampered and spoild. That is what I am told by my black (who makes more money than me)co-worker years ago.
Donna A.

i actually get the controversy. of course they weren't calling for the actual murder of Zhang; they're just pissed as hell. as they made it very clear when the film was originally cast. it's pretty insensitive to have Chinese actors play Japanese. the stereotype is pretty clear. and the casting was made by ...white Americans? you know they had it coming. even i, a pasty white Canadian, groaned when i read about the casting.

I think what it came down to for casting Zhang Zizi in this film is star power. She has the talent, strong exposure in America and successful track record with films so the studios must have decided to cast her instead with going with an unknown Japanese actress.

The actual history surrounding geishas makes the choice of Chinese actors that more short-sighted, insensitive and ridiculous, but the director in an interview (linked here I believe) freely admitted to be totally ignorant of all those pesky historical details, and tried to pass it off as some kind of "pan-Asian" experiment. Also these actors were all chosen because they were the best for their roles: you know hard to find a good Japanese actress that can dance and speak English. (Except of course that Zhang Ziyi *couldn't* speak English before "Memoirs of a Geisha".) This is, of course, nonsense. Most of the leads were chosen for their recognizable faces to North American audiences.

But yes, I'm sure the director and Sony took this path because of their enlightened multicultural views. Or it could be as Al Young stated -- Sony wasn't sensitive about anything except their box office take. I suppose we should all be grateful that we had a Zhang Ziyi otherwise we'd have gotten , I don't know, Lindsay Lohan in some make up circa 1950's Hollywood.

From a movie-goer standpoint, my qualm with this film was the fact that it was made in English. It should've been made in Japanese with English subtitles.

I will not see this movie for one, because it looks dumb; and two, because these actors should be speaking Japanese - not English - I laughed at the trailer because the acting in English is so poor.

-Drewbacca
www.moviepatron.com

What?! You mean Schwarzenegger isn't really a terminator? I can't believe they cast a human to play a robot! And Russel Crowe, he's not a real Roman?

Actors play characters; most of the time, these characters are not the same age, nationality, religion, ... as the actors.

For example, Ralph Fiennes, an Englishman, played an evil Nazi in Schindler's List, even though the British and the Germans fought a war against each other fifty years earlier and did nasty stuff to one another, like bombing each other's cities. Was there an outcry then?

European actors play roles outside of their nationalities all the time. Europeans also play Americans. And Americans play Europeans. This results in maybe a few groans, but no uproar.

As for this being an "all Asians are the same to white people" issue: Catherine Zeta-Jones, who is Welsh, is currently playing a Mexican woman in the latest Zorro movie. Do "white Americans" think Welsh people are the same as Mexican people?

I can't wait until Geisha actually comes out and people start picking it apart for it's "ignorant", "racist" portrayal of Japanese culture. If it's anything like any historical film ever made, it should be ripe for the picking. Should be fun.

People are missing the point:

1) The Japanese are pissed (and rightfully so) that every major female role is played by a Chinese actress, as if there's no such thing as a "good Japanese actress" for the role.

2) The Chinese (Mainlanders, mostly) are pissed (stupidly so) that the Japanese aren't portrayed as ugly barbaric monsters, which in their heart of hearts they think all Japanese are. Plus, their pride and joy of the moment, Zhang Ziyi, has sex with a Japanese guy in the movie, and that just pisses them off even more.

Basically that's it. And puh-lease, don't get into "Hollywood can't tell the difference between Chinese and Japanese person" bit. Hollywood has always gone for star power first, second, and last.

Being Mexican, I always get mistaken for being Puerto Rican. Man, that really burns me up. For that reason, I feel the anger of the Japanese momentarily. But then reality sets in, and as intelligently pointed out by earlier posters, a studio movie is all about star power. Also, you won't see no whitey or other race playing a soul brotha or sista, so maybe the Latinos and the Asians are heading down the right direction. Then again, studios aren't really making many movies about Latinos and Asians, so WHO CARES?

Isn't the point that it's absolutely shocking that this sort of overt racism still exists?

And it's disturbingly violent? (i.e. "hacking her to death")

If people can't swallow another race playing a role in a movie, we exist in a pathetic, close-minded, hateful society.

First and foremost I agree with Drewbacca, I won't see this film if it's the only thing in theaters. Second I agree with Pacze Moj, Austrailans play Canadian, Americans play British and British play everthing. Does anybody care that Brad Pitt plays an Irish Gypsy? That Antonio Banderas (Spanish) playes a mexican or that Johny Depp plays any role he wants with any accent he wants? To Asians, Japenese, Chinese, Korean or any other we are all the same. They don't care if all the Three Musketeers are british, irish or french or a bunch of brat packers from California. When they can tell me the origins of all the James Bond actors I will care where the actresses portraying Geishas helm from.

Oh one thing though Moj Russell Crowe didn't play a Roman, he was supposed to be Spanish. He was a Spanish Roman general who spoke with an Austrailan accent. Oscar winner, nice spanish accent.

Like Catherine Zeta-Jones I am Welsh and also from Swansea.

I was shocked when she played a Mexican. She has brought shame on us all for this great sin! ;-)

Seriously, I can understand the Japanese being peeved at so many Chinese actors being cast in this movie and have stated my misgivings here previously. (Despite being a big fan of Zhang Ziyi and Michelle Yeoh!)

I know they were chosen for commercial reasons but it I find it patronising to say the least that a western audience is not supposed to be able to tell the difference.

The Chinese attitude reported above is much more disturbing to say the least though. While the sadistic cruelty inflicted by Japan on their nation is not disputed, I get the feeling that reconciliation has been discouraged in China for contemporary political reasons rather than historical ones.

Very good points by PACZE MOJ and CRACKERJACK I think.

Ethnicity means nothing when it comes to film. Almost anyone could play almost any role in Hollyweird.

-Drewbacca
www.moviepatron.com

The one role I feel should be exlusive is James Bond. I am not british I am from Arizona but I believe that one particular role should be played by an actor from the U.K. Australia, New Zealand and maybe even Canada possibly. That is my one prejudice. If Speilberg were to cast an epic WWII film set in the pacific would we care if all the actors playing Japanese soldiers were really from Japan, or in a Vietnam film would we scrutinize if the Vietnamese soliers were really from Vietnam? Why do they care so much about this film and not others?

I don't see Americans giving a shit about this one but yeah I can completely understand Asians hating this film. The Japanese would probably rather see accuracy in the portrayal of Japanese people and customs. If accuracy is out of the question then at least some respect. What if someone did a biopic of Ray Charles and used Louis Armstrong music as the soundtrack? Or cast a white guy to play Ray? Memoirs of a Geisha may not be a true story but the film makers could have at least respected the source material and made a film true to the spirit of the book. From what I have heard the film ignores the proper Japanese custom, dress, and dialog of the period. If you miss this one point alone the Japanese audience will be turned off and probably the film will flop. Let’s face it its just disrespectful to make a serious film without any serious consideration of your source material—no wait, it is just fucking stupid.

As far as the whole casting thing well these two nations hate each other and given their long history I can’t say I blame the Chinese. Star power be damned this is something Hollywood shouldn’t be ignorant about. I seriously don’t think the star power argument, as true as it is, will do anything to deflect the negative press surrounding this movie in Asia. My girlfriend is Korean and she won’t go see this movie because of the casting, to her it means Hollywood is stupid or thinks we are.

Hal, ofcourse Hollywood is stupid. As far as I am concerned they never should have made this film, especially if they don't even try to do the book justice. The director is the same guy who did Chicago, do you really want to take anything he does too seriously? Not bashing Chicago as a film but did anyone go see it because of its historical accuracy? I feel for your girlfriend but does she go to movies starring Rene Zelweger and consider if she is from London or Texas? Can she tell the difference between Canadian actors and American?

Crackerjack, there's a huge difference between "American and Canadian" and "Chinese and Japanese" As far as my knowledge of history goes, America and Canada haven't been at each others throats for a little short of forever like the Chinese and Japanese have (the problem existed LONG before the Japanese invasion of WW2). Where as most of the western world looks upon people as pretty much the same, Asia doesn't really share that view. Long story short, in Asia, Chinese play Chinese rolls, Japanese play Japanese rolls, Koreans play Korean rolls, and the Vietemese play...well you get the idea.

“I feel for your girlfriend but does she go to movies starring Rene Zelweger and consider if she is from London or Texas? Can she tell the difference between Canadian actors and American?”

Well no of course not but it has been a long, long since Canada, America, and the UK were at war with each other and even during those wars [American War for independence or the War of 1812] and I’ve never heard of anything that might be on par with Nan-king have you? Check out this link http://www.tribo.org/nanking/
Also try to keep in mind Chinese don’t marry Japanese or vice versa. A girl who does this runs a serious risk of being disowned by her family. There is virtually no mixing of the nationalities/races over there and believe it or not you can tell the difference between Chinese and Japanese and Korean they really don’t all look alike. I have a friend from the Philippines and she went to Japan to teach English on an exchange program and I’m telling you no Japanese guy would even consider dating her. In America and Canada we don’t get this because we are all so mixed up most of us don’t know where the hell we come from. Me personally I like the way it is in America because we really don’t care.

Trust me this is some seriously deep rooted shit not just some mild racist belief of Chinese or Japanese superiority. If you don’t get that you can’t understand this fuss. AS far as your belief the film never should have been made--I agree given the type of story it is I think it doesn't make a good American film and someone in Hollywood should have funded a Japanese version of this story and then imported it the way George Lucas helped get one of Kurosawa's film made [Ran?]

Oh Chris you don't know how we really feel about the Canadians. Just kidding they're great. How about in the U.K.? Irish and English are still having difficulties putting down the guns yet Brosnan was well recieved as Bond, at first anyway. The English and Scots had there problems from way back but they are good now. Someone mentioned before Fiennes playing a Nazi comander, didn't hear any Germans shouting about that. The list of countries who have been at war and been occupied by other nations is endless and sometimes actors from one country or region will play a character from another. At least its not Shirley Mclane. Forty years ago we would slap some white makeup on an American actress and call it good. Everyone should just be happy we've evolved enough to actually cast an Asian to play the Geisha.

"Everyone should just be happy we've evolved enough to actually cast an Asian to play the Geisha."

lol, good point

Hal, I think it would have been a great idea to fund a Japanese film, they certainly have the talent to make it themselves. About the racial prejudice, because they are so rooted in prejudice does that mean we should support it?

Thanks Hal. :)

I don't know that the hatred is completely and totally racial that is one thing I was trying to get at...then again you may not be addressing me on that point. Honestly Crackerjack, I think you make some good points concerning the director and Hollywood, don't think I'm not right there with you on that. I do think in America this film will do fine-- it may lack the depth of the book but it will have star power and some potentially great acting.

I never read the book but for those who have I hope the filmakers do it justice. If they don't then may the movie go down in flames and they lose their jobs for it.

I think a lot of you need some extra history classes as the silly comparisons like "OMG Canadians play Americans and Americans play English all the time" shows only a lack of historical and current knowledge about China and Japan (and in fact the well-known cultural animosity that exists among quite a few asian nationalities). Does President Bush visit the graves of war criminals guilty of misdeeds in Canada, or Britian or Australia? Is the German government dealing with text book scandals where the facts about WW II has been whitewashed to present the Nazis in a more favourable light? In the year 2005?

It's fairly obvious that the vicious comments the actors and director may be getting should certainly not be condoned, but it's also obvious that it comes off as supreme arrogance to tell people to "get over" stuff when you don't know anything about them or their culture but their history. It's also incredibly insulting since we ALL know that the casting picks had absolutely nothing to do with any sort of multicultural ideals at all but money. It wasn't even about holding auditions and having the best Asian actress, of whatever nationality, get the part (again Zhang knew no English before she took this role). It wasn't about choosing to oppose racism: how would choosing a Japanese actress to fill a Japanese role about a Japanese story racist? And IMO we've evolved far enough for a studio to have done so ie pick a Japanese actress. Clearly some of us are living in places not quite that enlightened. *That's* what ticks me off about the whole thing.

I figured it would go without saying that none of us are racist and support those kind of comments so surely that couldn't have been the point of the post. Right?

I suppose that this race switching by actors doesn’t seem so bad. Personally I wouldn’t mind if Antonio Banderas were to play James Bond. Will Smith as George Washington. Or how about Johnny Depp as Jimmy Hendrix. Anybody got any shoe polish?

Perhaps the racism isn’t quite that overt in this movie but it is racist all the same. As I write this from Japan, the brand name actor pool here really can’t hold their own against the caliber of the actors they are using in this film. They would have to go with unknowns and that’s riskier than a possible backlash from Japanese and Chinese moviegoers. Still I would’ve liked to see them try.

As I understand it, on the set of The Last Samurai, the Japanese actors served also as historical and cultural consultants to the film. That film has done quite well here in Japan and you’d be hard pressed to find a Japanese person who didn’t like it.

If your going to tell a culturally specific story shouldn't you at least involve the people of that culture in more than a few supporting roles?

I wonder where the racism is, in the person who says a Chinese woman can play a Japanese character or with those who say she should not. I don't know all the history and my ignorance limits my ability to fully understand the situation but as far as I know these actresses have done nothing to harm anybody. Why should they pay the price of their nations past?

"I think a lot of you need some extra history classes as the silly comparisons like "OMG Canadians play Americans and Americans play English all the time" shows only a lack of historical and current knowledge about China and Japan (and in fact the well-known cultural animosity that exists among quite a few asian nationalities). Does President Bush visit the graves of war criminals guilty of misdeeds in Canada, or Britian or Australia? Is the German government dealing with text book scandals where the facts about WW II has been whitewashed to present the Nazis in a more favourable light? In the year 2005?

It's fairly obvious that the vicious comments the actors and director may be getting should certainly not be condoned, but it's also obvious that it comes off as supreme arrogance to tell people to "get over" stuff when you don't know anything about them or their culture but their history. It's also incredibly insulting since we ALL know that the casting picks had absolutely nothing to do with any sort of multicultural ideals at all but money. It wasn't even about holding auditions and having the best Asian actress, of whatever nationality, get the part (again Zhang knew no English before she took this role). It wasn't about choosing to oppose racism: how would choosing a Japanese actress to fill a Japanese role about a Japanese story racist? And IMO we've evolved far enough for a studio to have done so ie pick a Japanese actress. Clearly some of us are living in places not quite that enlightened. *That's* what ticks me off about the whole thing.

I figured it would go without saying that none of us are racist and support those kind of comments so surely that couldn't have been the point of the post. Right?"

Bingo!

Very good point mulele, I hope they had Japanese historians on set at all times. Who knows with Hollywood? The filmakers may not have cared one bit about accuracy. That is good to hear about Last Samurai, I am gald the Japanese enjoyed the depiction, I liked that movie alot.

“I wonder where the racism is, in the person who says a Chinese woman can play a Japanese character or with those who say she should not.”

I think casting a Chinese or Malaysian actress to play a Japanese role instead of someone of Japanese ancestry is fucking dumb as hell but in it's self not racist. The issue is more about historical context. Clearly, the Japanese national would better understand the cultural significance of the part and be accepted by the audience as historically correct. The question really isn’t can a Chinese person play a Japanese Geisha--the question is should they? When it is something THIS sensitive you can’t afford to be dumb as hell…there is nothing racist about saying they should have stuck with a Japanese actress to play a Japanese role. Regardless of how you look at it this is race switching but I don’t know that it is racist by intent. Hollywood didn’t sit down and go,

“Japanese people can’t fucking act, hell they can’t even speak English, let’s get some Chinese bitch in there and call it a day, ok!”

I just think nobody thought it was a real issue because just like many people in the west they don’t know anything about the history and cultures of the region. They didn't realize the issue was so serious. The whole thing is racially insensitive for sure, but racist hmm…I guess if you are Asian yeah, may be you might see it that way. History is the big component to me though, it gives the situation the necessary context, once you study it you will get what the fuss is about.

John once again flipped out before trying to understand the point. Its semi-understandable because most people on this continent cant tell the difference between chinese and japanese. So i think the best way to make it more relateable is to imagine Amistad filmed with a few white guys playing the lead slave roles. The race of the characters in some mindless action flick may not matter but in a film like Roots or Memoirs of a Geisha then race is understandably important.

I love John but his know-it-all attitude really blocks him from having quality discussions.

Once again Cole reminds us all that unless you share his point of view, you're a "know it all".

Regarding the comments about the difference between a Canadian actor and an American actor:
No, there aren't any real differences because both countries are built on immigrants. If anything, anyone of any race should be able to play a Canadian or American. That's hardly the point.

How would people feel if an Asian was casted as James Bond? Even with an English accent, people would still protest. How about an All-American film set in Texas, all played by Jamaicans with accents?

I'm sorry for people who can't tell an Chinese from a Japanese, or from a Vietnamese, at first or second glance. They are from different countries and look different from each other. If it were a more modern setting, it wouldn't matter as much to me, because people are more globalized and there's a lot of mixing going on. However, for something that's more or less historical (well... the story is not historically accurate, anyway) ethnicity is very important.

So is the whole thing racist? I'm not too sure where I stand. I think it's ignorant for the movie to be in English and not in Japanese. I also think it's ignorant to cast the well known Asian actresses without thinking that perhaps it'll spark negative press.

I don't think the blame is on Zhang Ziyi. It's unfair that the people in the article are pointing her out more than the rest of the Chinese cast members. Everyone who signed onto this project should have known it was coming.

I just think there's a lot of ignorance going on. Of course racism is sitting in the background of all of this controversy. If Hollywood was simply all about the money, then they certainly would have spent the time to make sure they don't piss off the Asian population and make sure the film would also sell well overseas. To me, the people involved weren't considering the revenue from the Chinese and Japanese population at all.

"To me, the people involved weren't considering the revenue from the Chinese and Japanese population at all." - Chris P

Not considering the revenue from China and Japan doesn't mean it was all about the money, it simply means it wasn't all about the money from China and Japan. Besides the controversy might just liven up ticket sales there.

"I wonder where the racism is, in the person who says a Chinese woman can play a Japanese character or with those who say she should not. I don't know all the history and my ignorance limits my ability to fully understand the situation but as far as I know these actresses have done nothing to harm anybody. Why should they pay the price of their nations past?" - Crackerjack

You are missing the point entirely. Or at least my point. Ok ok so China and Japan have their differences but this shouldn't limit studios to pick who they like for whatever flick they like yadda yadda etc and so forth. And the guy directing the film, who's totally got his pulse on the ramifications of this film and damn it Zhang Ziyi totally blew him away, and Chow Yun Fat was the only guy around and Yeoh well it's all been said about her, let's storm ahead and let the audience make of it what they will. I would be far more mellow about it if THAT'S how it went.

http://michelleyeoh.info/Movie/Mg/Articles/the-geisha-in-translation_030605.html

But the director didn't even know--he claims that it's just a fable and he doesn't want to know anything about the history behind it 'cause it's fiction. Except of course we don't all happily live in a fictitious world and hey, maybe that might come off as insensitive? Of course he goes on to say that he scoured Japan but could not find the right combo--beauty, dancing skills and English proficiency. I don't buy it not least of all because Zhang didn't know English before she took the role--surely you've seen her at awards shows and interviews in films like Hero?

So in a nutshell that's what bothers me about it--how can someone ignorant about the historical and political context of his film think he has any business celebrating multiculturalism and Pan-Asian love or whatever the heck his PR person told him to say on camera? How am I suppose to take that seriously? How does that come off looking good?

As far as Zhang making out with Japanese fellers I could care less. Heck *I* want to make out with her and I'm white and female. And China should care less. But if I'm going to make a film with the intention of making that point, I sure as hell ain't going to hire a director who wants to remain blissfully ignorant about it all.

Warning: long tirade beginning!

Hollywood's being racist? Not when compared to the films of the 1930s, 40s and 50s when a bunch of white folks would slap cork on their faces and necks to portray black people, or get themselves a bit of tanning to play Native Americans. And who can forget "Kung Fu"? David Carradine as a Chinese immigrant! Now THAT'S racism.

Hollywood being stupid? Um... yeah. See above. Plus ignoring someone's heritage and culture and the attendant drama that comes with those things could be so classified. Chris P is right: The reason no one gives a rat's ass whether an Irishman, Scotsman, Aussie or Brit (did I get all of them?) plays Bond is simple...They're all English-speaking white men with ties to Britain! That, and an ability to look sauve on screen is really all that's required. But just try shoving a German or a Swede up in there, and see what happens! For that matter, try making Bond a black Brit (yes, they do exist), and see if folks don't burn the theatres down.

They could cast an American, (Brad Pitt anyone?), but then in order for him to be on Her Majesty's Secret Service, they'd have to get past that pesky little business of the Revolutionary War, the Declaration of Independence, blah, blah, blah. You know, stuff that no one outside of the US gives a damn about.

So Hollywood probably conveniently figured, "Hey, let's make up for screwing over Bruce Lee, Anna May Wong, et al, by giving a bunch of Chinese folks the lead roles in a Japanese-oriented flick. Straight hair, slanted eyes, pale skin, who'll know the difference? No one outside of Asia gives a damn about their history." Although I'm not sure why.

Asian films aren't exactly staples in the Bible Belt or Peoria. The majority of Americans still seem to think that reading is way too much work at a theatre, so serious Asian films still generally play only to select/arthouse audiences in the US. Assuming they're going for the almighty dollar (no, really!), i.e., the international market, the thing to have done would have been to maintain as much accuracy about the time period as possible, so it would play well internationally, where people actually DO pay attention to such things. Especially in Asia, which is, hello, your largest market for this sort of thing!

This would of course have to take into consideration:

(a) the very large cultural differences between China and Japan
(b) The fact that both nations have hated the living hell out of each other for the last God-knows-how-long.

Had the story been set in contemporary times, then yes, it shouldn't matter what part of Asia the person comes from, as long as they can act. But in the 1940s? Huh-uh. I saw the trailer and I was completely confused, since the whole thing seemed to be set in China and I'm pretty sure Geisha are not a feature of Chinese culture.

And no, we are not at the stage where the race or ethnicity of an actor is irrelevant. When they were casting for Hannibal Lecter, Sam Jackson was a consideration for the part until the powers that be balked at having a black man protray an intelligent cannibal. In retrospect, it was probably a good idea, because they would have had to completely rewrite Lecter's backstory to fit Jackson's character. (Not too many wealthy black folk hanging out in Europe before WWII.) And that would have been a royal waste of time.

Zhang and co. did the right thing. They're actors, and they take roles to presumably stretch themselves and hone their skills, as well as make money. That's their job. As long as they aren't portraying some god-awful stereotype and are trying to remain true to the material, they are to be applauded.

The fault lies purely with the lazy, greedy idiots who let star power blind them to historical nuance and accuracy. I think Halcyon's idea was best. Let Fox Searchlight/Miramax/The Weinstein Co. or whoever give the Japanese a few million $$, let them make the thing with their own people, and then import it.

They won't have the "star power" they like, but then they won't need to make as much money to pay for said "star power", and by that time the damn thing would probably have paid for itself just from the Japanese box office anyway.

If someone has a probelm with a film, they don't go to see it. I don't see any "fault" here.

Zhang Ziyi wanted money, so she agreed to do the film. The studio wanted money, so it went with "name" Chinese actresses rather than unknown Japanese ones. The studio's responsibility is to the people who own it; it's responsible for making money. The studio calculated that it's more profitable to risk alienating Japanese and Chinese audiences than to strive for max "national accuracy". Sensible call, I think. After all, it's just a movie--a product.

"Hollywood should realize... It's all in the historybooks."

And Hollywood has given a fuck about the history books since when, exactly?

I just want to say that if Zhang Ziyi is banashed from her homeland for this film, or if she doesn't feel safe going home, she is more than welcome to come live with me. I promise I will only take tasteful pictures of her while she sleeps...

Just trying to inject a bit of levity (sp?) into what is becoming a very serious discusion...

"Forty years ago we would slap some white makeup on an American actress and call it good. Everyone should just be happy we've evolved enough to actually cast an Asian to play the Geisha."

Forty years ago John Huston cast an Asian, Eiko Ando, to play a giesha. America isn't quite the bottomless mire of racial hatred that PBS and the history books would have you believe.

And anyway, as Laurence Olivier observed, "It's called ACTING."

I am sorry but this is just a movie you know.
Its not sports teams where national pride is on the line or something.
Would people get so upset about this if it were a play?
If people want to use this as an excuse to scream about their racist ideas then it is very sad that a new movie is all you have.
Mostly any public outcry makes movie marketing execs salivate.
Nobody will care and realize this doesnt matter by the time it's on DVD.

Remember how you wanted to just stare at the floor and close your ears off during Mickey Rooney scenes in Breakfast at Tiffany's?

It really shouldn't matter so much in this case. The idea that Hollywood thinks that any Asian who is not some Kung-fu dude can carry a mainstream Hollywood film is progress.

My first viewing of Die Walkure had (very black) Jessye Norman in the role of Sieglinde, with (very white) Gary Lakes playing her identical twin brother. The opera includes many lines in which the two (and others) comment on how much they look alike. If that can be done, anything can be done.

Isn't Tim Allen currently playing a dog?

This is why it's called Acting. Meryl Streep wasn't bloody Polish in her most memorable role, and it is widely acclaimed as one of the greatest acting performance ever put to film.... For crying out loud, everybody's first lesson in Acting 101 is to be a tree or flower. When will the botanists have a go at that, eh?

Just to let you guys know, reports are that the 3000 people who saw the premiere in Japan gave it a standing ovation at the end. 99% of those are Japanese, presumably some were geisha (don't know about that). Of course, that might not represent everyone, but obviously a majority thought very highly of it. And in Japan, ratings have been very high - four out of five stars in many cases.

Hey John, thanks for calling me a racist. Considering I'm in an interracial relationship I think is a bit odd but hey opinions are like assholes.... :) I don’t support racism in any form and I find your analogies a bit sad. Here is a better analogy. What if someone did a Hitler film with Hitler having white hair and blue eyes and an Irish accent? I would say that is a bit more accurate. Keep in mind the non-Japanese cast members do not even have the correct accent. Saying that people might be irritated about that isn’t backing racism. Saying that these people hate each other’s civilizations isn’t racism either. It is history. You passed over this in your argument because you needed to focus on calling people who disagree with you racist enablers. You constantly talk about how you get demonized by people for having an opinion then you demonize others for stating facts about history. How about the fact that the director has stated he isn’t interested in the culture of the period for his film? Hey, if some Asians find this irritating I can understand that. You would, after all, complain if someone fucked up a movie about something you were interested in. I think the point at least I’ve been trying to make is that these two cultures have good reason to dislike each other and, hey, some people are not going to like the casting. If the movie does well, great, I happen to like the people in it, if not, hey I can see why.

“I don't see Americans giving a shit about this one but yeah I can completely understand Asians hating this film. The Japanese would probably rather see accuracy in the portrayal of Japanese people and customs.”

First off, Thank you "Halcyon" and "ChrisP" for being so open minded with this issue. Clearly others like "Crackerjack", "Hurley", "Brian" and "Thesecretsafe" aren't aware of other cultures within their own community. I honestly think they should join the White Supremacy group and/or a Israeli-Palestinian Ethinic Cleansing group if not already executive leaders of these groups. Their comments sure sound like they already are.

I am of Irish (Caucasian), Maori (Polynesian) and Japanese (Asian) decent. I've been mistaken a lot for looking like Dwayne Johnson, or as you may know from WWF "The Rock". Dwayne is also of Polynesian and Caucasian decent. I can't tell you how many times I am asked what my ethnic background is and after telling people like "Crackerjack, Hurley, etc", they laugh and say you don't look Chinese or they ask, what's a Marry?

After hearing comments from people like Crackerjacker and Hurley, it is clear that I would be wasting my time explaining that No, I am not Chinese, I am Japanese or that No, it's not called Marry, it's called Maori. It's a waste of time because they have already chosen not to educate themselves of the differences in cultures. To me, sad, but we live in America, we are entitled to our opinions. What is more sad is that people like this will breed and their offspring will be little close minded kids running around promoting more Cultural Ignorance from their parents.

But enough about the small minded guys on this blog, I don't think this movie is about being racist or about bringing hate between what happened between China and Japan. I think it's about Cultural Awareness. This movie, which I am boycotting, promotes Cultural Ignorance and it is sad to me that we still live in a country where Small Minded people still can't tell the difference between a Korean, Chinese, Thai, Filipino, Vietnamese or Japanese person. This movie will only promote more ignorance and it will do more damage than good.

After reading a few messages on this board, I fear that Cultural Ignorance's poison has gotten to most of you already. I respectfully and humbly pray that you will open your minds to the other cultures and understanding that Asians aren't all the same. Support the arts, but not those that promote this kind of poison.

To everyone on this post, i do not know any knowledge of geishas or the history between Japan and China. I just came to this post and started reading all these posts. As someone on the outside looking in, i can give an honest opinion about the arguments. people have different cultures, and these cultures vary greatly from others. Certain cultures have wars, battles, etc. These mean absolutely nothing to people living halfway across the world. Unfortunately, RisingSun, not everyone has the time or interest to delve deep into other cultures and histories. I seriously doubt that russians gave a damn about the american civil war. you get the point. That does not make them racist!!!!You are seriously mistaken when you point the finger at Crackerjack and Hurley. There are so many different possible points of view from all over the world. it doesn't make them more wrong or right than the others. If you are from Japanese descent, you get seriously insulted by this. If someone got a German to play Abraham, the reaction among the Israeli would be similar. Here in america, there is a vast amount of ignorance in some people. just realize that lots of people DON"T CARE if you are fillipino, korean, chinese, or Japanese. no one cares if I'm of british, irish,german,south african, French, or anything else. I'm just "white". More people than just asians get put into a huge category together. in Japan, there is controversy. In America, there is not. It is because we are a melting pot. Everyone has there own background and there own national pride. it's human nature to protect that. it may make us ignorant, but not racist. Please don't get the two mixed up.

Unfortunately, Brian#2, people do care about your background more than you think. More importantly, people care about the cultural background of the actors who appear on the big screen. Go ahead and check out the comments people have made all over the internet about this film (Memoirs of a Geisha). See how many Asian Americans and Americans of other ethnicities have complained about this film from the beginning. See how many jokes have been made about how unfair it is that people of certain ethnicities/ races are always dying off first, in Hollywood films.
I remember watching "Dinner for Five" once and an actress who is Italian American kept complaining that she never gets to play an Italian because she's not what Hollywood believes that Italians look like. So Hollywood does care about an actor's background, whether or not they're right about it. However, somehow no one gives a crap about who looks Japanese, because the people who did the casting had no idea who a Japanese person looks like. So they go for star power. That, to me, is beyond ignorance. That, to me, is racism... albeit a fairly minor case of it.

By the way, I don't truly care if this film is very accurate because the original book was written by a Caucasian man who never stepped foot in Japan. He had interviewed someone and took his liberties in creating a piece of fiction. What I care about is the lack of respect that a lot of Hollywood filmmakers have towards the rest of the world. It's not only ignorant, but also disrespectful to their fellow Americans. Of course this leads to a lot of related topics that I don't care to discuss but for those who are curious, please check out some forums that are ethnic based and see what people have to say. Especially how the Asian Americans are reacting to this. You'd be surprised that they can be more sensitive to this topic than people who live in China or Japan.

Thank you Brian#2, quite intelligent.

RisingSun, you seem to misread alot. I suppose you bring your own personal view and don't look at others but what you fail to see is the lack of racism on my part at least. My favorite race is the one so mixed in with others that if asked they can't even name them all. I myself am of majority Italian, but not by much. I can name Irish, Spanish, French but I know there are others. Nobody since the first of my ancestors stepped off the boat has married into their same race. I couldn't be in a white suppremist group if I wanted to. I find the racists the ones who are so involved in their own race that they can't accept someone from another race playing them in a film. When I was younger I liked to have an Italian falg in my room and root for the Italian's in the World Cup, now I find it silly. I am born and raised in America and there is no defined race for America, unless you count Native Americans and I have worked construction with them more times than I remember and the majority don't care how we refer to them, Native American, Navajo, Apache, I have yet to ask one that gave a crap.

So Rising Sun, my view on race relations is this: I hope everyone in the world keeps Fucking each other until one day we are all the same, a great big mixed up mess with no certain race. So do you still think I am the racist or maybe its you who can name the different blood running through your veins.

Just a point of view from a Chinese American...

Most of the Chinese people I know haven't even heard of this book or movie, until the article that mentioned Chinese people wanting to "hack her(Zhang) to death"; I think the journalist who wrote this article should be critisized for sensationalism before we start calling out Hollywood for racism, or the Chinese, or Japanese... or Canadians.

A comment on Japan's point of view: I think some Japanese have issue with this movie because it is about Geishas, which represent a rare part of Japanese culture that hasn't been tainted or changed by modernism. It is in a way, sacred to the culture; To have it represented inaccurately, told through the perspective of a foreigner could be upsetting to some. Especially because when made into a Hollywood movie it could reach billions of people around the world, and falsely educate the world of this innacurate Japanese culture.

Oh, and by the way... Chinese and Japanese don't hate eachother as much as some of the comments here suggests. There are a good number of people who still hate... Then there are many more people who are aware of the past but chose not to get caught up in the nationalsim / patriotism that only serves the politics of the time.

Xenophoe - despite my name, I am not a xenophobe.

Thank you Xenophoe, very intelligent comments. If it were up to me a Hollywood studio would have funded and helped produce a Japanese film about Geishas and none of this would be an issue. Once again I compliment you on the insightful remarks above.

Trying to move on from who’s acting which roles in this movie.
As well as the usual Hollywood movie potential mis-education to non Asians of who Asian people are… Chinese always playing Japanese, etc...

There are some pretty basic realism errors in this movie. Some even with just the clothes. For a “westerner” to understand maybe it would be akin to a black wedding dress and a white funeral suit.

Misrepresentations are rife in the “globalized” life anyway.
Its like calling Canadians Americans. Its like the in UK if they describe someone as Asian there probably thinking of someone Indian. Its like most western Japanese restaurants are run by Chinese ( so Chinese hate Japanese heh?)… some of the restaurants still blatantly serve Chinese food…. most of the customers wouldn’t have a clue… just like this movie. Its like in Japan if you’re a westerner your presumed to be American.
Etc, etc..

If your thinking of learning anything serious from this film or any other recent Hollywood Japanese movie… don’t believe every you see.
However you can still enjoy the movie as just entertainment.

remember when hollywood used to cast white guys to play indians and put brown paint on 'em? remember when hollywood used to cast white guys to play blacks and put black paint on 'em? it's insensitivity. and it's american stupidity. americans can't tell japanese people from chinese people from korean people. and the powers that be should realize that if they want to release films about asia in asia they should be more sensitve. culturally.

I think that it's sad that this has become an issue about cultural awareness. It's a movie, period.

I didn't like the book and will probably not go to see the movie, but the author of the book spent 10 years in Japan researching the culture of the geisha and interviewing women who lived the life of a geisha and their families. To say that the book is uninformed and culturally unaware shows some ignorance of literature and a willingness to make snap judgements.

Yes, I agree that most of the posters to this topic have valid comments on both sides, but when it comes right down to it, I must say that you all have chosen to argue over something that mankind has struggled with from the beginning. Cultural differences exist: physically, mentally, politically, just to name a few. That does not mean that in an enlightened world a person couldn't view cultural differences as something to learn from and move past. I feel that the human race will experience the most growth when we learn to embrace the good in ALL cultures, but view each other as nothing more than another HUMAN BEING sharing the same planet.

In other words why can't we live and let live? A black british James Bond? It would be the first James Bond movie I would support because it would mean that somebody was thinking outside the box.

So, now instead of making this an issue over "cultural differences" and "racism" and "ignorance" maybe we could focus on the only real issue here. Was this movie made to entertain or to accurately portray a historically accurate view of the culture of the geisha?

This is movie is absolutely ridiculous and now I totally can't stand Steven Spielberg and Rob Marshall because of their choices in making this movie. One problem is that this is yet another film that focuses on Asia but refuses to film in the language of the country in question and use subtitles. Also, the larger problem is Al Golden (the book's author) and the book itself. The Japanese woman who provided all the information for the book (based on her life) says it's a total sham and that she is completely pissed off about it, but no one in the U.S. will listen to her - or care about what she has to say - because the whole premise of the book is geared towards perpetuting the western idea of Asia as being no more than a cauldron of sexual fetish - and that, is the reason, the book is received so well in the U.S. because that is already the idea of Asia that most westerners want to believe in. Shame on Mr. Golden. Furthermore, the pudknocker has the audacity to blow off this Japanese woman's complaints by saying something like "well, the closer one writes about the truth about someone's life, the more that person will be angry..." It's completely rude, insensitive, and this Mr. Golden has, in effect, backstabbed this Japanese women. Everything about this movie is total garbage.

I say we all boycott the film.

the BOOK was written in ENGLISH so the MOVIE is made in ENGLISH...DUH! And who cares if its a really good movie and follows to the books then what the hell!

if you read the book any of you, you know that the woman who provided info is DEAD how can anyone listen to her? stupid. and just everyone...who cares?

Contrary to what some people think they know of China and Japan, there are a great many similarities between the two cultures. Cultural affinity was greatest during the height of Chinese civilization a thousand years ago. That was the era when Japan was greatly influenced by Chinese Han and Tang Dynasty culture, adapting Chinese art, writing, music, architecture, food and costumes.The Chinese also had their earlier version of the geisha in the form of imperial consorts and courtesans. Like the geishas, these women were skilled in singing, dancing and charming male patrons. Through the ages, much of the ancient arts of the early dynasties have faded away in China, but have been preserved in Japan.

The Chinese as geisha controversy is much ado about nothing, considering
the Japanese have portrayed Chinese in their own movie versions of the first emperor Qin, the imperial concubine Yang Guifei, and characters from famous legend Monkey King. And let's not forget Tamlyn Tomita played a Chinese daughter in Joy Luck Club, Mako was a Chinese peasant in Sand Pebbles, and most of the main cast of Flower Drum Song was Japanese portraying Chinese, minus any brouhaha.

Apparently HK and mainland Chinese filmakers today love pan-asian casting. Among some coming blockbusters, Chen Kaige's "The Promise" has a Korean actor and Hiroyuki Sanada as Chinese characters. Andy Lau is starring with Japanese actor in Mozi's Strategy, a Japanese manga based on the story of an ancient Chinese philosopher.

As a Chinese-American, I have read the book and look forward to seeing the movie. I don't think there's any problem with the casting, but if a Japanese actress had asked for the role(s) they should be strongly considered. Plus, the only true reason Hollywood would want a Japanese actress is so she can speak JAPANESE in the film, which none of the characters do. I, for one, plan to see the movie as soon as it comes out.

Co-stars of 'Geisha' thrill Baron

Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, who plays the Baron in "Memoirs of a Geisha," had rave reviews for his co-stars:
* Ziyi Zhang (Sayuri): "It was amazing to watch her work. She had done the Chinese method, which is highly abusive, and she learned how to stay focused. I watched her do her dance sequence over and over again with no rest and no complaining. She's only in her 20s, but she brought a range of emotions playing a character that moves from innocence to fully blossomed maturity. I don't know if there is a Japanese actress who could have taken on that role."

* Michelle Yeoh (Mameha): "She looked very comfortable on the set and she helped Zi quite a lot. She was a great grounding point for Zi and for the film."

* Gong Li (Hatsumomo): "It's amazing to see that much beauty. She's like a force of nature. Just to stand near her was an experience of a lifetime. It's one of those moments so rare, you should really cherish the time. She's charismatic and she's passionately committed to her work. She had a deep sexuality that is different from the western idea of sex; it's very deep and very spiritual."