An updating ofthe themes of the 1936 Sisters of the Gion, significantly set against theoccupied Japan of 1953. It is the story of the friendship of two women, Miyoharu(Michiyo Kogure), an older geisha, and Eiko, her 16-year-old protege. Ayako Wakaowas the "discovery" of this film as Eiko, whose initial idealism aboutbecoming a geisha-she buys into the myth about being a national treasure-isbrutally quashed. A wealthy businessman who desires to become her patronmanipulates Eiko's forthrightness and Miyoharu's sacrificial submission so thatboth become his kept property. "The charm of A Giesha is the compassionatebut completely unsentimental way it regards the two women's friendship (and) themanner in which this friendship changes and deepens as their responsibilities,each to the other, are acknowledged. Miyoharu is much the more interesting of thetwo, but it is the younger Eika who is more often right." (Vincent Canby, NYTimes)