This was a good movie with good acting, more in line with European films than American, as the typical beginning/middle/end isn't there, you get more scenes from a life POV. There also aren't any overly emotional situations, just more of what you'd see in everyday existence, which doesn't mean dull.
In this case, you get absorbed by the story of a woman in the Ginza area of Tokyo, who works as a geisha to support herself and her young son (a pretty good child actor) and hasn't had the best of luck with men. Her son's father walked out on her when she got pregnant, and she's now the mistress of a married man, who once helped her out but now just takes advantage of her good nature. Things take a turn for the worse when the owner of the geisha bar talks of selling, and she has to deal with a rich but sleazy businessman, then take an upswing when she meets a charming, cultured man who may be the way to a better (as well as happy) life. She didn't know she'd have unexpected competition!
There were some good location scenes of the city back in the 1950's, as well as some musical entertainment (the little girl in the early scenes had quit a voice), and you bet bits and pieces of the lives of the other people who are part of the bar and the neighborhood. (The title, BTW, is all about the facades people put on day to day to play the roles they have to in order to get through their days.)
If you don't mind not getting the kind of ending typical of Hollywood, (and subtitles don't bother you) then you'll enjoy this film.
