For a movie that was so visually stunning, Memoirs of Geisha really failed to capture much of the imagery from the book. I don’t recall the story too well but I do remember thinking that it was more than just about one girl’s infatuation with a kindly gentleman. The tale of Chiyo, who with her sister, is sold by the family to cover expenses is a sad one. The movie takes us on Chiyo’s journey from poor fisher girl to fabled geisha to kimono labourer and finally to winning her one true love.

Disappointingly the movie really is one big slick and very typically commercial Hollywood film with the minimum of substance and maximum of looks.