IMDb > Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983)
Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983) More at IMDbPro »

Videos
Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983) -- Cine.gr - Trailer (Flash)

IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
7.1/10   3,999 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 6% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Laurens Van der Post (novel)
Nagisa Ôshima (screenplay) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
2 September 1983 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
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 synopsis
Awards:
Won BAFTA Film Award. Another 8 wins & 6 nominations more
User Comments:
What happened here ? more (55 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
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (Australia) (DVD box title) (Australia) (DVD box title) (International: English title) (DVD box title)
Senjô no merî Kurisumasu (Japan)
more
Runtime:
124 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Eastmancolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.50 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The music on the film's soundtrack called "Forbidden Colours" is a reference to Yukio Mishima's novel where there is a theme of the incompatibility of homosexuality with the samurai ideals more
Goofs:
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. more
Quotes:
Captain Yunoi: To be or not to be, that is the question. more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Stupeur et tremblements (2003) more
Soundtrack:
Rock of Ages more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
15 out of 17 people found the following comment useful.
What happened here ?, 15 January 2006
10/10
Author: Arthur Crown from United Kingdom

Loosely based on Lauren's van Der Post's trilogy 'The Seed and The Sower', Nagisa Oshima's English language film (1983) is set on the island of Java in 1942 (during World War II).

Written by Paul Mayersberg and the director, this film explores the situation of English prisoners of war held by the Japanese on the remote island of Java, offshore of Indonesia, and their Japanese captors.

In particular, it tells the story of Colonel John Lawrence (Tom Conti) - a man like Laurens van Der Post - who has a deep understanding of Japanese culture, but is incarcerated like all the others. A powerful mediator between the English and the Japanese, John Lawrence helps the audience to understand this violent and often perplexing behaviour of their captors.

Captain Yonoi (Ryuchi Sakamoto) shows us the honest, understanding and straightforward face of the educated Japanese officer in these difficult circumstances. Sergeant Gengo Hara (Takeshi Kitano) helps us to understand the rather formal, misguided, traditional non-commissioned officer whose parallel is our own 'Sergeant Major' or 'Drill Sergeant'.

The crisis of cross-cultural understanding is heralded by the arrival of a British soldier who inadvertently conforms to the Japanese ideal of heroism - Major Jack Selliers (David Bowie). In Selliers, even Captain Yonoi, has to sit up and take notice. A very British sense of 'fair play' is somehow paradoxically engendered.

It's not hard to ignore the obvious pop stars, in this great film whose sweep and focus leads us inexorably to confront the painful conflicts of our parents or grandparents, because we cannot help but feel the keen emotions evoked by it.

How hard it is to bear the merciless execution of the violent Sgt Hara, when we truly understand how meekly he accepts it and why.

And what great good fortune that Ryuchi Sakamoto could have written such a haunting musical theme to the movie.. while he was only getting paid for acting !

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (55 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence community Holkospinner
That lock of hair fellini812
Fanfiction DJOfRadioGallifrey
Bowie's rank GoldMorning
Furyo jfaguiler
'Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence!´ gubar
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Bridge on the River Kwai Empire of the Sun Return from the River Kwai Guizi lai le Nihon no ichiban nagai hi
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Drama section IMDb UK section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.