Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence
Optimum Home Entertainment (1983)
Drama, Science Fiction, War
In Collection
#8549
0*
Seen ItYes
715515061919
IMDB   7.3
2 hr 4 mins UK / English
DVD  Region 2   R
David Bowie Major Jack Celliers
Tom Conti Colonel John Lawrence
Ryuichi Sakamoto Captain Yonoi
Takeshi Kitano Sergeant Gengo Hara
Jack Thompson Group Captain Hicksley
Johnny Okura Kanemoto
Alistair Browning De Jong
James Malcolm Celliers' Brother
Chris Broun Celliers aged 12
Yuya Uchida Commandant of Military Prison
Ryunosuke Kaneda President of the Court
Takashi Naitô Lieutenant Iwata
Tamio Ishikura Prosecutor
Rokko Toura Interpreter
Kan Mikami Lieutenant Ito
Director
Nagisa Oshima
Nagisha Oshima
Producer Jeremy Thomas
Masato Hara
Larry Parr
Writer Nagisa Oshima
Paul Mayersberg
Cinematography Toichiro Narushima
Musician Ryuichi Sakamoto


"Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence" (1983) Jack Celliers (David Bowie) arrives at a Japanese prison during WWII. The camp commandant, Yonoi (Ryuichi Sakomoto) is steeped in Japanese tradition of honor and glory. He considers those prisoners who surrendered rather than committing suicide or fighting to the death as cowards. When on prisoner, Lt Colonel John Lawrence (Tim Conti) tries to explain the Japanese way of life he is labeled a traitor. Yonio becomes fascinated with the defiant Celliers and develops an obsession that can only be described as homosexual like. Near the climax the allies approach the prison and the prisoners line up outside the barracks. Celliers leaves the line and walks toward Yonoi in a surprising and somewhat comical climax.
Edition Details
Distributor Future Film
Release Date 9/1/2006
Packaging Keep Case
Screen Ratio Widescreen (1.78:1)
Subtitles English; Finnish
Audio Tracks Dolby Digital Stereo [English]
No. of Disks/Tapes 1