kimonolife

I saw this documentary in theatres during its premiere, asked the jazz singer and geisha Makoto from Gion a question about her life, watched her dance at a gala celebrating the film, and again at last year's Japan Expo. I've been desperate to see this movie again, and take notes on names and places.

I wore a silk chirimen with tangerine and cream ikat patterns on charcol black, and it only served to highten the experience. I might wear kimono again to this showing, but I haven't fully decided. I might need some prodding.



Hannari ~ Geisha Modern (NR, 110 min.) Showing in Los Angeles
Sunday, April 1, 2007 at 1 pm
$10

Fine Arts Theatre
8556 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Tel: (310) 360-0455 _View Map

The Fine Arts Theatre is located between S. Le Doux Rd and S. Stanley Dr. It is one block West of LaCienega Blvd. and two blocks east of the Wilshire Screening Room. Look for the large, three-part marquee along Wilshire Blvd.



HANNARI - GEISHA MODERN is a documentary film, narrated in English by Maxwell Caulfield with interviews in Japanese with English subtitles. It is truly unique in its approach and unprecedented in its access to the exclusive geisha of Kyoto. There have been numerous documentaries on the geisha, which were limited to educating the audience through narration and interviews with scholars. This film's approach is much more visual and aural, allowing the audience to take in the atmosphere through the images, the sounds of the instrument and the soft, melodic dialect spoken by the geisha.

The producer/director, Miyuki Sohara, has trained alongside the geisha in Kyoto, working for several years to cultivate relationships within the geisha community. Her efforts garnered her film crew a level of support no other film/TV crew has ever been granted.

Many of the popular films and stories about the Geisha tend to perpetuate the unwelcome notion that those who become geisha are victims of circumstance. Hannari - Geisha Modern shows the Geisha as dedicated artists and proud purveyors of Japanese tradition in their full glory.

For the first time in history, all Geisha districts in Kyoto were filmed.

From www.hannari.info

I have to admit, I don't know anything about sumo, except that great big men crash into other great big men = sumo. I do know plenty about kimono and kitsuke, so it sounds like a prime opportunity to learn something different about Japan through a semiotic vehicle like Japanese clothing. Hell, it might even add to the atmosphere.

2007 US SUMO OPEN