Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence

Movie

1983

2h 4m

Japanese

Drama, History, War

User Score:

7.4

Critic Score:

Watch on The Criterion Channel

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 strug...

Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence

Movie

1983

2h 4m

Japanese

Drama, History, War

Watch on The Criterion Channel

WATCHMODE

7.4

IMDB

CRITIC SCORE

Where to watch

Rent

$1.99SD

Buy

$7.99SD

Available in 3 other countries.

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Cast

Celliers

Lawrence

Yonoi

Hara

Hicksley

Kanemoto

De Jong

Celliers' Brother

Celliers (12 Years)

Commandant of Military Prison

Ryūnosuke Kaneda

President of the Court

Lieutenant Iwata

Prosecutor

Interpreter

Lieutenant Itō

PFC Yajima

Corporal Ueki

New Commandant of Camp

Chief Doctor

Australian Doctor

P.O.W. Officer

P.O.W. #1

P.O.W. #2

P.O.W. #3

P.O.W. #4

Directed By: Nagisa Ōshima

Written By: Nagisa Ōshima (Screenplay), Paul Mayersberg (Screenplay), + 1 more

Featured Comments/Tips

Ziegelus says...

one year ago

Ever since I read about the death of Ryuichi Sakamoto, I wanted to see the film. The music for the film by Sakamoto is hard to beat. A little tears at the end, just great. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence ! <3

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mcbrownie220 says...

4 weeks ago

Japanauary2025 Film # 4 - Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence 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...” This is a movie that will sit with me for a while. The contrasting views on the honorablility of Survival and Suicide because of dishonor… The final few scenes are haunting… Jack Celliers walking in the garden with his brother… and Mr. Lawrence sitting in a cell with the former prison guard Hara… and Hara asking why am I here… when I only did what other soldiers did… and they are not being punished… This movie shows the complexity of war and the ramifications and impact on people and the human spirit. This is a movie that is not easy to watch but really should be seen, thought about, and talked about. This will be added to my must watch movie list.

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fknfuu says...

4 months ago

the fact that one kid grew up into david bowie in a school uniform and the other remaining as a kid is the funniest thing I've seen in cinema.

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forestgump24509 says...

4 years ago

merry Christmas mister lawrence just merry Christmas.

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Featured User Reviews

CinemaSerf

3 years ago

This offers a really poignant look at what we might describe as mutual insanity. "Maj. Celliers" (David Bowie) is convicted by the occupying Japanese on the island of Java on citing rebellion. With hindsight, perhaps he would rather not have been, but he is spared the firing squad and sent to the PO More

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