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Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
2 September 1983 (USA) moreTagline:
Java, 1942 - A clash of cultures, a test of the human spirit.Plot:
In 1942 British soldier Jack Celliers comes to a japanese prison camp. The camp is run by Yonoi, who has a firm belief in discipline... more | add synopsisAwards:
Won BAFTA Film Award. Another 8 wins & 6 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(3 articles)
Takashi Miike to remake Eiichi Kudo’s 1963 film ‘Thirteen Assassins’! (From Twitch. 12 May 2009, 4:35 PM, PDT)
Thirteen Assassins gets the green light
(From FilmShaft.com. 12 May 2009, 5:14 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
Moving and haunting, though sometimes awkward more (54 total)Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| David Bowie | ... | Maj. Jack 'Strafer' Celliers | |
| Tom Conti | ... | Col. John Lawrence | |
| Ryûichi Sakamoto | ... | Capt. Yonoi | |
| Takeshi Kitano | ... | Sgt. Gengo Hara (as Takeshi) | |
| Jack Thompson | ... | Group Capt. Hicksley | |
| Johnny Okura | ... | Kanemoto (as Johnny Ohkura) | |
| Alistair Browning | ... | De Jong | |
| James Malcolm | ... | Celliers' Brother | |
| Chris Broun | ... | Celliers aged 12 | |
| Yûya Uchida | ... | Commandant of Military Prison | |
| Ryunosuke Kaneda | ... | President of the Court | |
| Takashi Naitô | ... | Lt. Iwata | |
| Tamio Ishikura | ... | Prosecutor | |
| Rokko Toura | ... | Interpreter | |
| Kan Mikami | ... | Lt. Ito |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
124 minColor:
Color (Eastmancolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.50 : 1 moreSound Mix:
DolbyCertification:
Iceland:16 | Italy:VM14 | Portugal:M/16 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:RFun Stuff
Trivia:
The actors playing POWs use their actual names in the hospital roll-call scene. moreGoofs:
Factual errors: In the final scene in the prison cell, the cross belt of Lt Col Lawrence's Sam Browne is fitted back to front. moreSoundtrack:
Rock of Ages moreFAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (54 total)
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Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
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| Bowie's rank | GoldMorning |
| Fanfiction | DJOfRadioGallifrey |
| Furyo | jfaguiler |
| 'Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence!´ | gubar |
| That lock of hair | fellini812 |
| Gayness... | agitpop |
Recommendations
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| The Bridge on the River Kwai | Empire of the Sun | Return from the River Kwai | Nihon no ichiban nagai hi | A Savage Christmas: The Fall of Hong Kong |
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I saw this movie when it came out more than 17 years ago. At the time a big deal was made about David Bowie being in it. He is, and does a fine job, but the movie isn't about his character. It is far more about the differences between East and West, and the cruelty of war. I was able to see it again last week on a cable channel.
To fully appreciate MCMR, try to understand the culture of both the captors and the prisoners at the time. To the prisoners, their existence in the camp is an unfortunate result of war, and should be temporary and not a life or death experience. To the Japanese captors, the prisoners who surrendered rather than died fighting are cowards, beneath the notice of the captors and likely not even viewed as human beings. They are expendable. But first, in this particular camp, there is an effort to "educate" the prisoners about the way a *true* warrior lives life (and dies). That is where the true conflict begins.
There are multiple physical and psychological struggles going on in MCMR. There is even some homoeroticism, though it isn't fully explained. There is certainly a lot of sadness, for characters on both sides. This point is brought home at the end, when the roles are reversed for two of the characters.
Even today, I can hum several parts of the score to MCMR, and they make me melancholy as I recall scenes from the movie. If you like movies that delve into the darker side of the human spirit (with some lightness thrown in), check out MCML. I rated it an 8.