Search - Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence on DVD

Content Advisory: Violence, Graphic Violence, Brief Nudity, Adult Situations, Not For Children, Adult Language Movie Release: 1983 DVD Release: 05/14/2002 Format: DVD Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 4 mins Studio: C Logic Members Wishing: 10 Genres: Drama, War, War Drama, POW Drama

Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence was the first English-language project of Japanese director Nagisa Oshima (Death by Hanging, In the Realm of the Senses). In tune with his previous filmic essays on racism and brutality, Merry Christmas concentrates on a war of wills between rebellious POW David Bowie and camp commandant Ryuichi Sakomoto. Assuming that his other prisoners' unwillingness to protest their cruel treatment is a sign of weakness, Sakomoto is most impressed by Bowie's enigmatic defiance. While Bowie and Sakomoto seem to be operating on a high spiritual and intellectual plane, bilingual prisoner Tom Conti (the "Mr. Lawrence" of the title) engages in a more standard adversarial relationship with sadistic sergeant Takeshi Kitano. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

David Bowie - Celliers
Tom Conti - Col. John Lawrence
Ryuichi Sakamoto - Yonoi
Jack Thompson - Hicksley