Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983)
Java, 1942 — A clash of cultures, a test of the human spirit.
Island of Java, 1942, during World War II. British Major Jack Celliers arrives at a Japanese prison camp, run by the strict Captain Yonoi. Colonel John Lawrence, who has a profound knowledge of Japanese culture, and Sergeant Hara, brutal and simpleton, will witness the struggle of wills between two men from very different backgrounds who are tragically destined to clash.
Director: Nagisa Ōshima
Genre: Drama, History, War
Runtime: 124 min
Release Date: May 28, 1983
Cast
- David Bowie - Celliers
- Tom Conti - Lawrence
- Ryuichi Sakamoto - Yonoi
- Takeshi Kitano - Hara
- Jack Thompson - Hicksley
- Johnny Ohkura - Kanemoto
- Alistair Browning - De Jong
- James Malcolm - Celliers' Brother
- Chris Broun - Celliers (12 Years)
- Yuya Uchida - Commandant of Military Prison
Screenplay
- Nagisa Ōshima (Screenplay)
- Paul Mayersberg (Screenplay)
- Laurens van der Post (Novel)
Music: Ryuichi Sakamoto
Cinematography: Tōichirō Narushima
Editing: Tomoyo Oshima
Production: Recorded Picture Company, National Film Trustee Company, Antares-Nova, Oshima Productions, Broadbank Investments, Asahi Broadcasting Corporation
Country: Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom
Language: English, 日本語
Box Office: $2M
Original Language: ja
Themes
The Horror of War and Humanity, War Crimes and the Search for Justice, World War II: Global Conflict
Keywords
based on novel or book, war crimes, world war ii, prisoner of war, pacific war, court martial, prison camp, meditative, 1940s, java, indonesia, depressing, complicated, distressing, frustrated
Trailer
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence TrailerSimilar Movies
More Films by Director: Nagisa Ōshima
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence about?
- Island of Java, 1942, during World War II. British Major Jack Celliers arrives at a Japanese prison camp, run by the strict Captain Yonoi. Colonel John Lawrence, who has a profound knowledge of Japanese culture, and Sergeant Hara, brutal and simpleton, will witness the struggle of wills between two men from very different backgrounds who are tragically destined to clash.
- Who directed Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence?
- Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence was directed by Nagisa Ōshima.
- Who stars in Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence?
- Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence stars David Bowie, Tom Conti, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Takeshi Kitano, Jack Thompson, Johnny Ohkura.
- How long is Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence?
- Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence has a runtime of 2h 4m (124 minutes).
- What genre is Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence?
- Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence is a Drama, History, War film.
- How much did Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence gross?
- Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence grossed $2M worldwide.
- Where was Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence produced?
- Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence was produced in Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom.
- What are the themes of Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence?
- The themes of Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence include: The Horror of War and Humanity, War Crimes and the Search for Justice, World War II: Global Conflict.