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United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: Japanese ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), English ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: Mika Ninagawa's lavishly produced, broadly-scaled period epic Sakuran unfurls in 18th century Edo, the embryonic fishing village that in later years blossomed into the Japanese metropolis of Tokyo. Anna Tsuchiya stars as Kiyoha, a social-climbing courtesan who inhabits and works in a bordello of the exclusive Yoshiwara district. Exceptionally particular regarding her customers/bedmates, Kiyoha seeks liberation from the lifestyle and career that have ensconced her - but refuses to accept such emancipation at the hands of a rich man's purchase. Deliberately, yet with great assurance and conviction, Kiyoha approaches the prospect of freedom and attempts to surmount the social and cultural obstacles that stand in her way. ...Sakuran
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32 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The director, Mika Ninagawa, is a professional photographer first and foremost and boy does it show here. Every frame of every scene is composed to maximum artistic effect and as the colours appear to have been ramped up to 11 this is an excellent movie to play on your new Hi-Def TV and impress your friends! If, like me, you love the Japanese aesthetic and have even a passing interest in Japanese culture then this one's for you, though it is a heavily stylised version of a bygone age rather than a historically accurate one.
The movie is basically the story of a feisty young girl sold into the Edo red light area or 'floating world' where she becomes a courtesan when she matures. She is beautiful, rebellious and strong-minded but is still trapped in a world where escape seems impossible (symbolised throughout the film by beautiful closeups of exotic goldfish in a glass tank at the entrance to the red light district.) Consistently used and let down by men she never loses her determination to escape her gilded cage and find love and a free life.
Like Sophia Coppola's 'Marie Antoinette,' Sakuran has a music score which is modern and apparently at odds with the era being depicted but to my mind it comes off better here and fits very well with the exaggerated colours and the design of the clothes which are a major part of this film's visuals.
All in all, I just loved it. Worth it for the visuals alone but it has a lot more going for it than just that. (The main character is played by Anna Tsuchiya who is also in Kamikaze Girls, another Japanese movie well worth checking out.) Highly recommended!
The movie is basically the story of a feisty young girl sold into the Edo red light area or 'floating world' where she becomes a courtesan when she matures. She is beautiful, rebellious and strong-minded but is still trapped in a world where escape seems impossible (symbolised throughout the film by beautiful closeups of exotic goldfish in a glass tank at the entrance to the red light district.) Consistently used and let down by men she never loses her determination to escape her gilded cage and find love and a free life.
Like Sophia Coppola's 'Marie Antoinette,' Sakuran has a music score which is modern and apparently at odds with the era being depicted but to my mind it comes off better here and fits very well with the exaggerated colours and the design of the clothes which are a major part of this film's visuals.
All in all, I just loved it. Worth it for the visuals alone but it has a lot more going for it than just that. (The main character is played by Anna Tsuchiya who is also in Kamikaze Girls, another Japanese movie well worth checking out.) Highly recommended!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
just finished it and am here to find similar! Loved the film, it's a lot more traditional in story than the description makes out, i was expecting something cold and modern. The story is all things sometimes, romantic, funny, dramatic, shocking, a tad erotic!! At its core it's a great story brilliantly executed by everyone involved and Anna T is much more beautiful than that heinous cover pic!!
And yes, if you liked memoirs you'll probably like this too, although it's more spirited and pacey than it's upmarket sister. These girls tie their Obis at the front! If you know what that means ;-)
And yes, if you liked memoirs you'll probably like this too, although it's more spirited and pacey than it's upmarket sister. These girls tie their Obis at the front! If you know what that means ;-)
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Sakuran (cherry blossom) is the debut film of renowned Japanese photographer Mika Ninagawa and the relationship clearly shows - the colours are brilliant and it seems every scene has been chosen to work as a photoshot.
The story revolves around a little girl that gets sold into the 'red lantern district' in Yoshiwara and who in spite of being pretty contrary progresses through the ranks, all the way to becoming the chief courtesan (oiran) of the house. There are several issues the movie touches upon but overall one does not get the impression of the courtesan job being glorified or prettified. There is a lot of jealousy and petty infighting between the 'sisters', all of them are basically confined into a small insular world and they cannot escape their environs, nor their fate, unless they are bought by successful merchants as wifes.
A more or less complete cycle from joining to being elevated to top rank is being shown but the view is slightly more positive and promising than in Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter And Spring [2004] [DVD] - one gets the impression that change, while slow and in small steps only, is possible and the movie generally ends on a positive note.
While the story is fairly well done, and not prettified beyond realistic, what sells this movie is the visuals, first and foremost. In terms of colour, the only thing on the same plane would be something like Hero [DVD] [2002] and as mentioned the cinematography, the scene design etc. are all first rate and the movie is worth seeing for that alone. The modern, mostly European, soundtrack generally complements the action well, even if it might have the odd traditionalist frowning.
The acting is decent, too and while Anna Tsuchiya does a better job in Kamikaze Girls [2005] [DVD] in my opinion this is still a very solid performance on her part. One can say that the acting of the others is solid, too, although they do tend to fade into the background somewhat, the movie being fairly focused on the one person only. The only criticism is that the movie could be a tad shorter, more compact.
Overall, though, if you are interested in Japan, or photography, the lives of geishas or simply enjoy a decent movie, you are likely to be satisfied with what's on offer here.
The story revolves around a little girl that gets sold into the 'red lantern district' in Yoshiwara and who in spite of being pretty contrary progresses through the ranks, all the way to becoming the chief courtesan (oiran) of the house. There are several issues the movie touches upon but overall one does not get the impression of the courtesan job being glorified or prettified. There is a lot of jealousy and petty infighting between the 'sisters', all of them are basically confined into a small insular world and they cannot escape their environs, nor their fate, unless they are bought by successful merchants as wifes.
A more or less complete cycle from joining to being elevated to top rank is being shown but the view is slightly more positive and promising than in Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter And Spring [2004] [DVD] - one gets the impression that change, while slow and in small steps only, is possible and the movie generally ends on a positive note.
While the story is fairly well done, and not prettified beyond realistic, what sells this movie is the visuals, first and foremost. In terms of colour, the only thing on the same plane would be something like Hero [DVD] [2002] and as mentioned the cinematography, the scene design etc. are all first rate and the movie is worth seeing for that alone. The modern, mostly European, soundtrack generally complements the action well, even if it might have the odd traditionalist frowning.
The acting is decent, too and while Anna Tsuchiya does a better job in Kamikaze Girls [2005] [DVD] in my opinion this is still a very solid performance on her part. One can say that the acting of the others is solid, too, although they do tend to fade into the background somewhat, the movie being fairly focused on the one person only. The only criticism is that the movie could be a tad shorter, more compact.
Overall, though, if you are interested in Japan, or photography, the lives of geishas or simply enjoy a decent movie, you are likely to be satisfied with what's on offer here.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Memoirs of an oiran
At first I thought this would be an average film, recreating Edo's "Floating World" but not really exciting me. I was in for a surprise. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Trevelyan
colourful and interesting
another reviewer mentioned the modern music in this film...but for me..this ruined the beautiful settings,this has been done before in the kirten dunst film "marie antoinette"... Read more
Published 15 months ago by M. Stretford
Dreadful film
Sakuran
Director Mika Ninagawa (2007)
Japanese English subtitles. Certif 15.
The tale is that of a small girl sold to a whore-house who makes it to the top of... Read more
Director Mika Ninagawa (2007)
Japanese English subtitles. Certif 15.
The tale is that of a small girl sold to a whore-house who makes it to the top of... Read more
Published 16 months ago by J. R. Moss
please don't confuse Geisha with courtisans
this is a fantastic film with a wonderful soundtrack that works very well with the period drama. i think it's historic detail is very good and reflects something of what life was... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Douglas Birbeck
I love this...
I love this movie. I have seen it 4 times and loved it everytime.
Don't be fooled by its traditional costume, this movie is not a typical movie about geisha. Read more
Don't be fooled by its traditional costume, this movie is not a typical movie about geisha. Read more
Published 20 months ago by L. Chow
Sakuran
Very good movie.
Nice colors, and once again, Anna Tsuchiya give an incredible performance.
Nice colors, and once again, Anna Tsuchiya give an incredible performance.
Published on 16 April 2010 by Guy Fiset
worth watching
I personally never did expect this film to be as good as it was, which is reason enough for the 5 stars.
it has a good story line, quite romantic too. Read more
it has a good story line, quite romantic too. Read more
Published on 22 Jun 2009 by J. Kasumu
Colourful but dull?
This film is a riot of colour and style, with an indulgence in costumes and sets which assault the senses. Read more
Published on 29 May 2009 by Peter M
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