Like many films of its time, this is a slow buildup with a payoff that is as surprising as it is subvertive. Following two Geisha sisters in their struggle to find success in the tough and declining business of being a Geisha, each sister has a different method which are fundamentally different in philosophy from one another. Sisters of the Gion is masterful in its execution of this kind of story. Coming from this particular era in Japanese history, politically, it's surprising that this kind of film with the expression of its ideas was allowed to be distributed and survived the war - but it's good that it did.
Sisters of the Gion offers an excellent commentary on the idealized view the Geishas and the role they play in Japanese society and raising questions of their actual value in that society. Its ending is still quite potent even for being a film from 1936, and maybe even more potent because it's as old as it is.
The performances in this film help to enhance its themes as the performances feel very authentic and believable. There are few, if any, instances of overacting and all of the character interactions feel very genuine.
There is something to be said about a film that includes social commentary in it, but it takes a special kind of execution that really brings it into the next level. Maybe the film's ending is a bit neutered by having its commentary explicitly narrated to the audience by one of the characters but it still doesn't lose its impact, and for a film of its age, I think that aspect of the ending is forgivable. It's definitely a film I would recommend.
Sisters of the Gion offers an excellent commentary on the idealized view the Geishas and the role they play in Japanese society and raising questions of their actual value in that society. Its ending is still quite potent even for being a film from 1936, and maybe even more potent because it's as old as it is.
The performances in this film help to enhance its themes as the performances feel very authentic and believable. There are few, if any, instances of overacting and all of the character interactions feel very genuine.
There is something to be said about a film that includes social commentary in it, but it takes a special kind of execution that really brings it into the next level. Maybe the film's ending is a bit neutered by having its commentary explicitly narrated to the audience by one of the characters but it still doesn't lose its impact, and for a film of its age, I think that aspect of the ending is forgivable. It's definitely a film I would recommend.