The Teahouse of the August Moon

Plot summary

Captain Fisby (Glenn Ford) is sent to Americanise the village of Tobiki in Okinawa and retains the services of local Sakini (Brando) as interpretor. Fisby encourages the villagers to build a school but they want to build a teahouse and cannot afford both. Fisby gradually becomes assimilated to the local customs and mores with the help of Sakini and Lotus Blossom, a young geisha, (Kyô) and is ultimately surprised by his superior officer, Colonel Wainwright Purdy III (Paul Ford), in the teahouse wearing a bathrobe as an improvised kimono. Despite Purdy's anger and intended punishment of both Fisby and the villagers, the village is chosen by the SCAP as an example of successful democratisation. This deus ex machina enables all parties to end the drama recognising and celebrating their cultural diversity and common humanity.

Related Topics:
Teahouse - Geisha - Kimono - SCAP - Deus ex machina

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~