Director: Rob Marshall Writer: Ron Bass, Akiva Goldsman, Robin Swicord, Doug Wright Starring: Zhang Ziyi, Ken Watanabe, Michelle Yeoh, Youki Kudoh Released: January 19, 2006 Rating: Runtime: 145 minutes Websites: Story: Based on the internationally acclaimed novel by Arthur Golden, "Memoirs of a Geisha" is a sweeping romantic epic set in a mysterious and exotic world that still casts a potent spell today. The story begins in the years before WWII when a penniless Japanese child is torn from her family to work as a maid in a geisha house. Despite a treacherous rival who nearly breaks her spirit, the girl blossoms into the legendary geisha Sayuri (Ziyi Zhang). Beautiful and accomplished, Sayuri captivates the most powerful men of her day, but is haunted by her secret love for the one man who is out of her reach (Ken Watanabe). Nine-year old Chiyo, a poor fisherman's daughter, is taken from her family and sold to a geisha house. From her start as a common household maid, she blossoms into one of Kyoto's most renowned geishas, surviving the envy and treachery of the competition. Cast: Ziyi Zhang Sayuri Ken Watanabe Chairman Michelle Yeoh Mameha Youki Kudoh Pumpkin Suzuka Ohgo Chiyo Togo Igawa Tanaka Mako Sakamoto Samantha Futerman Satsu Elizabeth Sung Sakamoto's Wife Thomas Ikeda Mr. Bekku Li Gong Hatsumomo Tsai Chin Auntie Kaori Momoi Mother Zoe Weizenbaum Young Pumpkin David Okihiro Shamisen Teacher Miyako Tachibana Dance Teacher Kotoko Kawamura Granny Karl Yune Koichi Eugenia Yuan Korin