GEISHA, A LIFE

The true-life memoir of one of Japan’s most popular geishas promises at its outset to provide a fascinating look at a tradition as misunderstood as it is captivating. Unfortunately, while she offers intricate descriptions of practically every kimono she ever wore, Iwasaki — the first woman in the 300-year history of Kyoto’s famous Gion geisha quarter to tell her story — fails to fill in the details of her life with comparative color. Burdened with stilted dialogue that reads as though it were lifted from a bad Godzilla dub, and a cursory, superficial approach to storytelling, Geisha never really takes on a life of its own.