Valid point. It would indeed come off as a gimmick and rather forced, especially considering if it was a change to an existing continuity. I was considering it more from a storytelling perspective, but considering we are talking about adaptation....the idea of it being an absurd change is very valid.OtherSideofSky said:No offence to you either, but something like adoption would represent a far more significant change to the characters' history than casting black actors. It would require time in the film to explain, and it would be totally unnecessary. Also, I would actually be kind of annoyed if they did this and then didn't have the guts to go all the way with it. Jumping through hoops to keep the female lead and love interest white would really rub me the wrong way in a way that something like this doesn't. It would make the whole thing feel like a corporate gimmick.
Ok, I see what you're saying now.OtherSideofSky said:My point is just that it is not, in any sense, a change for an adaptation of a work written entirely in English to also be filmed in English. Honestly, I'm not certain that you can specifically call that a problem with the Memoirs of a Geisha movie; if it's an issue, then it's also an issue with the original work.
On a personal level, I guess it depends how far you demand historical accuracy and authenticity to an adaptation of a written work.
I was arguing that since the story is supposed to be reflection of a real Japanese person's life, it was strange that while no one was actually speaking Japanese in the film.... people were focusing on the the fact that the actress herself wasn't Japanese.
But on a personal level, yeah I can where I had a clear double standard.