Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983) ( Senjô no merî Kurisumasu ) ( Furyo )

Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983) (DVD) (*)

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Original Title: Senjô no merî Kurisumasu
Alternate Title: Furyo
Screened, competed or awarded at:
BAFTA Awards
Cannes Film Festival
Other Film Festival Awards

Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
Japanese ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )

Product Origin/Format:
Australia ( PAL/Region 0 )

Running Time:
118 min

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen (1.78:1)

Special Features:
Cast/Crew Interview(s)
Featurette
Interactive Menu
Making Of
Scene Access
Trailer(s)

Movie filmed in 1983 and produced in:
Japan ( India, Eastern Asia )
United Kingdom ( Great Britain, Ireland )

Directed By:
Nagisa Oshima

Written By:
Paul Mayersberg
Nagisa Oshima

Actors:
David Bowie ..... Maj. Jack 'Strafer' Celliers
Tom Conti ..... Col. John Lawrence
Ryuichi 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
Yuya 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

Synopsis:

This powerful prisoner of war drama features a stunning cast including David Bowie in one of his greatest roles and is the first English language film by acclaimed Japanese director Nagisa Oshima (In the Realm of the Senses). Set in Java at a Japanese POW camp in 1942, a war of wills and unspoken erotic attraction unfolds between a rebellious prisoner, David Bowie, and camp commandant Ryuichi Sakomoto, who is impressed by Bowie's defiance; while bilingual prisoner Tom Conti (Mr. Lawrence) engages in a more adversarial relationship with sadistic sergeant Takeshi Kitano (Hana Bi), who finally offers Lawrence a sinister 'Christmas' present. Fine performances by Conti, Kitano (his first dramatic role), Sakamoto (his acting debut, he also contributed the memorable score) and Bowie, combined with stunning cinematography and brilliant direction by one of Japan's finest filmmakers, make this a memorable and compelling war drama.

The first English-language project of Japanese director Nagisa Oshima (In the Realm of the Senses), it follows themes of racism and brutality as a war of wills unfolds between rebellious POW Strafer (David Bowie) and camp commandant Ryuichi Sakomoto. Sakomoto is most impressed by Strafer's enigmatic defiance; while bilingual prisoner Tom Conti (the 'Mr. Lawrence' of the title) engages in a more adversarial relationship with sadistic sergeant Takeshi Kitano, who finally offers Lawrence a sinister 'Christmas present'. Fine performances by Tom Conti, Takeshi Kitano (brilliant in his first dramatic role), Sakamoto (his acting debut, he also contributed the memorable score), and David Bowie enhance this provocative film.

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

This product was added to our catalog on Monday 07 October, 2013.