Summer Movies: Memoirs of a Geisha

The next movie in our series of summer movies, where plants play a starring role, is “Memoirs of a Geisha,” based on the novel of the same name. It tells the tale of two sisters, the daughters of a fisherman, who are sold and groomed to be geishas. One sister is mentored to become a master of her trade and ultimately purchase her freedom.

What I especially enjoyed about this movie is the recreation of life in Japan during this transitional era between World Wars I and II - the buildings, the beautiful (antique) kimonos, the details of daily life (like the wicker storage baskets), the misery of rains, the interpersonal intrigue, and the beauty of the gardens. Several Northern and Southern Californian gardens were used in the filming of the movie:

• Hakone Gardens in Saratoga, California
• Japanese Garden at the Huntington Library in San Marino, California
• Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California (right here in the Bay Area)
• American River near Sacramento, California

So whatever your opinion about the movie, the theme, or the plot – be sure to check out the garden shots, and try to identify their location! To see the trailer (notice the bridge from the Huntington in the garden scene): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0397535/