Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence

A somber, meditative descent into the clash of cultures and forbidden emotions, where every gesture carries the weight of shame and honor.

Directed by

Nagisa Ōshima

Genres

Drama, History, War

Starring

David Bowie, Tom Conti, Ryuichi Sakamoto

Tagline

Java, 1942 — A clash of cultures, a test of the human spirit.

Overview

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.

How it feels

Melancholic, tense, earnest and dark. Slow-burning and demanding.

About

War, identity, guilt, power

Content

Strong violence. Mild gore, sexual content and language.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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Watch the trailer on YouTube (opens in a new tab)