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From IMDB:
Nov. 28th, 2005 08:35 pm"
Although it features an almost entirely Asian cast, Rob Marshall's Memoirs of a Geisha has evoked anger and calls for a boycott among some of those who have seen advance screenings of the film in Japan and China, Reuters reported today (Monday). According to the wire service, some Japanese are outraged that the leading roles in the film are played by Chinese actresses Ziyi Zhang and Gong Li and Chinese-Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh. On the other hand, some Chinese are upset that Chinese film stars would favorably portray Japanese, who are still remembered for their brutal occupation of China in World War II. Reuters quoted one blogger as saying of Zhang, who plays the title role: 'She's sold her soul and betrayed her country. Hacking her to death would not be good enough.'"
... I can't decide if China's memory is too long, or not long enough. I mean, the Chinese and the Koreans were all up in Japan's grill centuries before WWII was even a glimmer in Hirohito's Heavenly Eye, and I'm sure that didn't help the Japanese military's attitude when they finally got the chance for some payback.
Obviously, my whiteness overwhelms my ability to comprehend such issues. I think I'll just go read the book and duck the controversy.
Japanese, Chinese Angry Over 'Geisha' Casting
Although it features an almost entirely Asian cast, Rob Marshall's Memoirs of a Geisha has evoked anger and calls for a boycott among some of those who have seen advance screenings of the film in Japan and China, Reuters reported today (Monday). According to the wire service, some Japanese are outraged that the leading roles in the film are played by Chinese actresses Ziyi Zhang and Gong Li and Chinese-Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh. On the other hand, some Chinese are upset that Chinese film stars would favorably portray Japanese, who are still remembered for their brutal occupation of China in World War II. Reuters quoted one blogger as saying of Zhang, who plays the title role: 'She's sold her soul and betrayed her country. Hacking her to death would not be good enough.'"
... I can't decide if China's memory is too long, or not long enough. I mean, the Chinese and the Koreans were all up in Japan's grill centuries before WWII was even a glimmer in Hirohito's Heavenly Eye, and I'm sure that didn't help the Japanese military's attitude when they finally got the chance for some payback.
Obviously, my whiteness overwhelms my ability to comprehend such issues. I think I'll just go read the book and duck the controversy.
