Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983)

During WWII, a British colonel tries to bridge the cultural divides between a British POW and the Japanese camp commander in order to avoid bloodshed.

Director:

Nagisa Ôshima

Writers:

Laurens van der Post (novel), Nagisa Ôshima (screenplay)

Stars:

David Bowie, Tom Conti, Ryuichi Sakamoto

Won 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 9 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
David Bowie	...	Celliers
Tom Conti	...	Lawrence
Ryuichi Sakamoto	...	Yonoi
Takeshi Kitano	...	Hara (as Takeshi)
Jack Thompson	...	Hicksley
Johnny Ohkura	...	Kanemoto
Alistair Browning	...	De Jong
James Malcolm	...	Celliers' Brother
Chris Broun	...	Celliers 12 Years
Yûya Uchida	...	Commandant of Military Prison (as Yuya Uchida)
Ryûnosuke Kaneda	...	President of the Court (as Ryunosuke Kaneda)
Takashi Naitô	...	Lieutenant Iwata (as Takashi Naito)
Tamio Ishikura	...	Prosecutor
Rokkô Toura	...	Interpreter (as Rokko Toura)
Kan Mikami	...	Lieutenant Ito

Storyline

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, honor and glory. In his view, the allied prisoners are cowards when they chose to surrender instead of committing suicide. One of the prisoners, interpreter John Lawrence, tries to explain the Japanese way of thinking, but is considered a traitor.

---

Plot Keywords:

prisoner | japanese soldier | briton abroad | japanese military | japanese culture | 

---

Taglines:

Java, 1942 - A clash of cultures, a test of the human spirit.

---

Genres:

Drama | War

---

Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film is based on the novel "The Seed and the Sower" by Laurens van der Post and his experiences in a prisoner of war camp during World War II.

---

Goofs

In the final scene in the prison cell, the cross belt of Lt Col Lawrence's Sam Browne is fitted back to front.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Sgt. Gengo Hara: [in Japanese] Wake up, Lawrence.
Col. John Lawrence: [in Japanese] What is it? Why so early, Sergeant Hara?
Sgt. Gengo Hara: [in Japanese] Hurry up!
Group Capt. Hicksley: What does he want?
Col. John Lawrence: [in English] I'll find out?
Sgt. Gengo Hara: [in Japanese] What?
Group Capt. Hicksley: You don't have to take orders from this man, you know, Lawrence.
Col. John Lawrence: Well, I'm the liaison officer, so I'm liaising.
Sgt. Gengo Hara: [in Japanese] What did he say?
[...]

---

Connections

Referenced in World Championship Snooker: 2015: Day 14, Part 3 (2015)

---

Soundtracks

The Fight
Music by Ryuichi Sakamoto

User Reviews

Had to swallow a lump or two

I remembered watching this movie when I was younger and it affecting me a lot. Well, I re-watched it recently and it has lost none of it's power.

The acting in the movie is adequate without ever being great (the notable exception being Tom Conti who is fantastic in his role as the misunderstood titular character).

However, the movie moves beyond the acting and once you are embroiled in the atmosphere and realism you become oblivious to any acting shortcomings.

The movie must be one of the most accurate depictions of human nature in a war. It has a diverse range of characters yet none of them becomes a caricature. It certainly doesn't sink into the good vs evil mindset that many war movies do.

The violence is graphic and shocking despite lacking the visceral realism of Spielberg's later war movies.

The ending of the movie still affects me, even after repeated viewings. I still have to a lump or two to stop from crying even now.

Overall, recommended for anyone with an interest in a non-stereotypical movie about war. Not for the faint of heart though.

Details

Country:

UK New Zealand Japan

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

2 September 1983 (Canada)

Also Known As:

Furyo

Filming Locations:

Wanganui, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$99,221, 28 August 1983

Gross USA:

$2,306,560

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,306,560

Company Credits

Production Co:

National Film Trustee Company, Antares-Nova, Recorded Picture Company (RPC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1