‘Geisha’ under fire for casting choices

updated 7:40 p.m. ET Dec. 8, 2005

The makers of “Memoirs of a Geisha” expected to be lauded for creating the first big-budget Hollywood movie with Asian actors in every leading role. Instead, they find themselves defending casting decisions that have inflamed historical tensions between Japan and China.

The English-language film is set in Japan and adapted from the American novel. It stars Chinese actresses Ziyi Zhang and Gong Li, and Chinese-Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh. They join several Japanese performers, including Ken Watanabe.

For months, the Internet has been filled with vitriolic debate over cultural insensitivity, and Zhang has been denounced in China for her starring role. The arguments boil down to this: A movie about Japanese culture should have a Japanese actress in the lead.

The filmmakers, however, thought that would be shortsighted and discriminatory. Producers Douglas Wick (“Gladiator”) and Lucy Fisher, and director Rob Marshall (“Chicago”), say the casting was an exhaustive, meticulous process that considered acting ability, star power and physical traits.

“Some Japanese actresses didn’t even want to audition, because they couldn’t speak English and were too afraid to try to take it on,” Fisher said.

Marshall said that when Zhang auditioned, she immediately established that she deserved to be the star: “Your hope as a director is that someone comes in and claims the role, says ‘This is mine.”’

NBC VIDEO 'Geisha' stars on their new film Dec. 8: NBC's Jamie Gangel interviews Michelle Yeoh and Ziyi Zhang, stars from the new movie "Memoirs of a Geisha." Today show

The debate is somewhat perplexing considering that actors have been playing characters of different nationalities throughout the history of film.

“When you saw ‘Zorba the Greek,’ and you saw Anthony Quinn play Zorba, was that odd to you because he was Irish and Mexican?” Marshall said. ‘Or when you saw ‘Dr. Zhivago,’ and you saw Omar Sharif, who’s Egyptian-born, play a Russian, was that something that threw you?”

Gong said she chooses roles based on substance, not race.

“As actors, we seek roles that challenge and inspire us,” she said in a statement to The Associated Press.

“Think of all the amazing performances that would be lost — Meryl Streep as a Polish woman in ’Sophie’s Choice’; Russell Crowe as an American in ’The Insider’; Ralph Fiennes as a German in ’Schindler’s List’; Vivien Leigh as an American in ’Gone With The Wind’; Sir Anthony Hopkins as an American President in ’Nixon,”’ Gong said.

MORE FROM MORE NEWS AND OTHER FEATURES

Oscar broadcast will now allow movie ads

Oscar broadcast will now allow movie ads How one Chihuahua mix became a star Critics get early look at ‘Watchmen’ scenes Bening, Carrey talk bailout vote at AFI event Downey Jr.’s Sherlock may become franchise ‘American Carol’ is rare right-wing comedy Maher takes crusade vs. religion to big screen Paramount, DreamWorks to separate James Earl Jones to receive SAG award Ed Harris does it all on ‘Appaloosa’   Add More news and other features headlines to your news reader: