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I finally had a chance to watch Memoirs of a Geish on DVD. DVD version of rated R movies are always modified. I hope I have not missed much.
I will not talk about the story. Much has been said.But:
The least I got out of this movie was that I learned the true definition of the word Geisha. I always thought it was synonymous to prostitute. Not only it does not mean that, but nothing is worse than being considered a prostitute by a real geisha. I learned that a Geisha is a traditional female entertainer. Geisha literally means "art-person," and the true geisha is above all an artist. She is an accomplished musician, being able to sing, dance, and play traditional instruments like the shamisen, but perhaps most excels in the fine art of making her client feel like a king.
It also means;female performers who specialize in entertaining and providing companionship to men at dinner parties and similar venues. They are skilled in classic Japanese arts such as music, poetry and calligraphy.
Being a Geisha was a torturous life style. Resting one's head on a high thin rod(as a pillow) is not comfortable. Not washing your hair for two weeks is even worse. These are the least I could mention.
This movie told me more about Japanese culture. Japanese people like to go beyond perfection in many aspects of life and take it to the point of obsession. That is the reason geishas are not found as commonly as they once did. Another example is their tea ceremony. I might be able to experience their tea ceremony once (4hours), but not twice. I hear that to clean and prepare a certain fish (I don't know which) you have to train for 10 years. This certain fish is poisonous. If it is not done right, and a guest(customer) dies of the poison, the chef will have to kill himself(This is a quote from a visitor to japan).
Here is more interesting cultural point leraned from the movie. To japanese men the more a woman is vovered the sexier she is. Showing off your skin is not considered sexy at all. In fact a geish goes as far as covering her face with powder. The only exception is a tiny spot on the back of the neck (That is considered SEXY), which sends this tempting message: If this much of me is so beautiful, imagine what the rest of me is like!!!!!!
Please let me know if my takes are interesting to you. 