1. I would say they maintain everything old fashioned. From their looks, to their dance, to the way they carry themselves, they are the embodiment of old Japan. In their looks they where special robes, they walk a certain way on top of special sandals, and their makeup makes them distinct and standout from the modern people. In their arts they maintain a certain old fashioned style, keeping with old traditions and utilizing fans and umbrellas. All around, the way they walk and talk is very traditional.
2. This may not be a very good example, but it's the best I could come up with. In relation to the example, I would say that everyone can appreciate the value or beauty of a good book, something popular, or just a story that captivates its reader. Now, this book can be in pristine condition and the text be good, but there's a certain beauty to old books that have been read over and over again to the point where the pages are falling out, or warn down, or there's a stain from mustard from a hot dog you ate one time while reading it. I love The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien and they're a very popular set of books, but there's something especially beautiful about my 12+ year old books that have been read several times and traveled around with me through the years.
3. Personally, I don't think so. I think the lines were good enough and they were delivered well enough to the point where it didn't lose anything from watching it like that. Now, if I were to watch a film that was truly american in another language I might say it lost something, but I guess this other way around sort of negates that. Also, I think that since the actors were Japanese and had a noticeable accent, it helped with the realism of the movie and therefore maintain a level of ma.
4. I'm going to to talk about Omisoka or New Year's Eve because it's personally important to me as New Year's Day is my birthday. It is also a national holiday that celebrates the end of one year and the start of another, where, for the most part, people drink and celebrate together. This particular holiday in the States is more of an adult holiday where the adults get together and celebrate and drink alcohol until the start of the new year, in most cases children either fall asleep, or, as is tradition in the US, watch the ball drop in times square to bring in the new year. The Japanese people in a small way have a similar custom where families congregate and eat special noodles that bring in the new year. Also, it seems they have singing contests of men vs woman that end just before midnight where a winner is chosen. After the new year is ushered in it's considered bad luck for work to take place the next few days, so basically, it seems they kind of hang out and enjoy each other the next few days, similar to the US I would say.
5. I think Sayuri throughout the film embodies that, she herself striving to become a geisha, the trials and hardships she faces along the way, etc. They make a great deal out of her eyes throughout the film because they're blue, which is a very rare trait for a Japanese person. They say throughout that she has a lot of water in her, meaning that she is like a river, determined and persistent, that finds away to carve through the rock and make her own path. And I think it's that sort of thought that drives her throughout the film and gives her an emotional beauty, a feeling of pity.
7. The scene where Sayuri gets the lead and does the dance in front of all the potential male clients. The dance starts of slow and serene where she walks out on giant shoes and moves her umbrella around. Suddenly, the music becomes more active and loud and Sayuri moves around the stage rapidly, with deft motions and falls to the floor, writhing in coordination. I think it embodies a whole lot of emotions that may not seem quite apparent at first, but has a certain beauty a midst the chaos that really makes you feel it.
8. I really enjoyed the movie. That was my second time seeing it, although the first time was many years ago when it first came out, so I knew the general plot, but forgot much of the details of what happened. I think the ending could have gone two ways, the way it did go, where she gets her happy ending with the man she wants, and where she loses it all and struggles to survive throughout her days. I think the film setup both to be an option and whether tragedy or happiness, it would have been good. That being said, I do like the happy ending and thought it good for the film.
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