IMDb RATING
7.2/10
21K
YOUR RATING
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.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.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.
- Won 1 BAFTA Award
- 10 wins & 8 nominations total
Takeshi Kitano
- Hara
- (as Takeshi)
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)
Rokkô Toura
- Interpreter
- (as Rokko Toura)
Yûji Honma
- PFC Yajima
- (as Yuji Honma)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAccording to David Bowie, Nagisa Ôshima directed the Japanese actors with great detail. But when it came to the British actors, they were told to "do whatever it is you people do".
- GoofsIn the final scene in the prison cell, the cross belt of Lt Col Lawrence's Sam Browne is fitted back to front.
- Quotes
Col. John Lawrence: You are the victim of men who think they are right... Just as one day you and captain Yonoi believed absolutely that you were right. And the truth is of course that nobody is right...
- ConnectionsFeatured in David Sylvian & Ryuichi Sakamoto: Forbidden Colours (1983)
- SoundtracksRide, Ride, Ride (Celliers' Brother's Song)
Composed by Stephen McCurdy
Featured review
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.
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.
- How long is Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence
- Filming locations
- Rarotonga, Cook Islands(prisoners camp in Java)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $2,306,560
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $99,221
- Aug 28, 1983
- Gross worldwide
- $2,353,340
- Runtime2 hours 3 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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Top Gap
By what name was Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983) officially released in India in English?
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