Today, there are only about one hundred
authentic Geishas left in Gion, Kyoto’s most traditional
neighborhood. In modern-day Japan, they are a subject of
conversation only in the highly exclusive circles of rich
connoisseurs. And yet these women of wit and learning, these
musicians, dancers and luxury courtesans, who emerged at the
end of the 18th century, are still, to this day, fascinating
travelers and perpetuating the ideal of female beauty in
Japanese society. They still practice their art of appearance
and receiving as per the strictest traditional rules. And the
female model they embody lives on forever. This 52’
documentary gives us a privileged insight into the mythical
and mysterious world of the last of the Geishas, a world that
is closed to foreigners. It reveals the reality behind the
all-too common clichés. Contrary to popular western opinion,
the Geishas do not sell their bodies for amorous pursuits.
They are artists (Gei means "art" and sha means “the person”).
Their role is to initiate their select patrons in the
refinement of traditional Japanese ceremonial. To help our
investigation, we get to meet a few of these female artists:
Maïkos (apprentice Geishas), Geikos and the manageress of an
Ochaya (tea house). These women, Koaï, Danyu, Mahemiro and
Takacho, lead us through their daily lives. We witness the
relationships that develop between them, both in the modern
world and in the more traditional realm of eternal Japan. As
we accompany them in their art lessons, in their private
functions, or simply in their daily life in Kyoto, our main
concern is to understand the refinement they incarnate and the
purpose it represents: reaching perfection in terms of beauty.
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