章子怡与杨紫琼畅谈《艺妓回忆录》

Now first look behind the scenes of a new movie " Memoirs¹ of a Geisha" based on the best-selling novel. It's the fictional² life story of one of the most exotic and mysterious women in Japanese culture. Our national correspondent, Jamie Gangel, sat down with two of the movie stars.

Visually stunning³ and emotionally intense, 'Memoirs of a Geisha' takes place in pre-World War II Japan and tells the story of Siyori, played by Ziyi, Zhang, who is sold as a child to a geisha house. Then with the help of the most prominent geisha, played by Michelle Yeoh, Siyori is transformed and discovers the secrets and the pain of geisha life.

The word geisha part of it means art. In addition to the dancing, the singing, the music, there is a side that people believe is about sex.

The geisha world is a very mysterious world. They did not choose to become geishas. They are chosen. And yes, there is the sex involved. That is the only time when the geisha can say yes or no.

You two went to geisha boot camp, in effect? How hard was it to learn to be geisha?

Tell them about your dancing.

I am thinking about those very tall shoes. I have to say when that scene started I got nervous for you.

We all did.

Was it hard?

Yeah. I remembered the first time when I saw them, I, you know, they told me that I have to dance in them, I just, I don't think it's possible.

Did you fall?

Yes, many times.

In fact the two actresses only had six weeks to learn what geishas spend a lifetime perfecting.

We have what we call, affectionately we call the seven rooms of torture. There was a room where you learn how to pour tea and sakei. Then there was a room where we learn how to walk how to kneel how to bow. The walking process we would put a slip of paper between our knees. And then when you graduate, you must glide⁴ across the room with a slip of paper and a bottle of sakei.

Could you do it?

Of course. Now walk.

You are a magnificent geisha.

It is a very painful story. Was it as hard to act as it is to watch?

I think for each of us, there were different levels of the pain. They dedicate their lives to the perfection of music, to dance. Because they are working pieces of art, and you do not love, you do not marry, and you do not have children.

Yeoh and Zhang have worked together before, in the popular martial⁵ arts film "Crouching⁶ Tiger Hidden Dragon".

From a difficult point of view, is it harder to do the big action or is it harder to do the little one?

Little one.

You know, because you have to pay all your intention to those small subtle gestures.

Those nuances are what make the story, which is told in the voice of a Japanese woman: 'I certainly wasn't born to the life of a geisha. '

But what 's surprised to many is that the author of "Memoirs of a Geisha" is a 48-year-old American man from Tennessee.

I just couldn't believe that an American guy who wrote this such beautiful story about a geisha's life. How could he know?

Did you feel, Michelle, that it was realistic?

I didn't care because it takes you away from what we have or what we are facing every day, like, that's what movies are for me. I get transported to a magical world.

For Today, Jamie Gangel. NBC N ews,New York.

That's beautiful. I love the book. (Yeah. ) 'Memoirs of a Geisha' opens in select theaters tomorrow.

1 memoirs   

n.回忆录；回忆录传( mem,自oir的名词复数)

参考例句：

• Her memoirs were ghostwritten. 她的回忆录是由别人代写的。
• I watched a trailer for the screenplay of his memoirs. 我看过以他的回忆录改编成电影的预告片。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 fictional   

adj.小说的，虚构的

参考例句：

• The names of the shops are entirely fictional.那些商店的名字完全是虚构的。
• The two authors represent the opposite poles of fictional genius.这两位作者代表了天才小说家两个极端。

3 stunning   

adj.极好的；使人晕倒的

参考例句：

• His plays are distinguished only by their stunning mediocrity.他的戏剧与众不同之处就是平凡得出奇。
• The finished effect was absolutely stunning.完工后的效果非常美。

4 glide   

n./v.溜，滑行；(时间)消逝

参考例句：

• We stood in silence watching the snake glide effortlessly.我们噤若寒蝉地站着，眼看那条蛇逍遥自在地游来游去。
• So graceful was the ballerina that she just seemed to glide.那芭蕾舞女演员翩跹起舞，宛如滑翔。

5 martial   

adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的

参考例句：

• The sound of martial music is always inspiring.军乐声总是鼓舞人心的。
• The officer was convicted of desertion at a court martial.这名军官在军事法庭上被判犯了擅离职守罪。

6 crouching   

v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• a hulking figure crouching in the darkness 黑暗中蹲伏着的一个庞大身影
• A young man was crouching by the table, busily searching for something. 一个年轻人正蹲在桌边翻看什么。 来自汉英文学 - 散文英译