‘Geisha’ lacks China’s OK

The Chinese government hasn’t approved the release of “Memoirs of a Geisha” two weeks before its planned debut there, a movie executive said Wednesday.

The film’s possible delay comes amid speculation that Chinese officials are worried that the sight of ethnic Chinese actresses portraying Japanese geishas may spark a public backlash. Many people in mainland China are still upset over Japan’s World War II-era military atrocities.

“ ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’ has not been officially rejected, but it’s true that the release may have to be delayed,” said Li Chow, general manager for Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International and Sony Pictures Entertainment in China, which is releasing the film there. It is due to open Feb. 9.

Illegal copies of the movie are already available, however.