Memoirs Of A Geisha

Zhang Ziyi was nominated for a Golden Globe for her moving portrayal of the young woman who, sold by her family, aims to become a geisha in the hopes of wooing a powerful man who once showed her kindness-the Chairman (Ken Watanabe). Her circuitous path to her destiny is littered with obstacles, however, as Sayuri (as she comes to be known) negotiates the secretive, complex and political netherworld of prewar Japan geisha/teahouse society. A power struggle with resident geisha Hatsumomo (Gong Li) nearly dooms Sayuri to the life of a maid. But she is taken under the wing of Hatsumomo's rival, Mameha (Michelle Yeoh), who prepares Sayuri for her entrance into geisha society. World War II intervenes, changing everything, but Sayuri perseveres, following her dream to the end.