Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence (DVD)

In 1942, many British prisoners (and other nationalities) are languishing in Japanese prisoner of war camps in Java. Colonel John Lawrence is one of them and, being a Japanese speaker and student of the Japanese culture, he is a valuable medium between the prisoners and the Japanese running it - he is particularly close to Captain Yonoi, the head of the camp, and Sergeant Gengo Hara. Then a new prisoner arrives, Major Jack Celliers, a New Zealander ...
...the beatings and punishments that they throw his way, which puts Lawrence in a difficult position. Thankfully Captain Yonoi seems to take a liking to Celliers. Will this save his life? And will Lawrence be able to maintain his respect for the Japanese while putting his own country first? Made back in 1983, this film had a massive impact on me at the time, with long-lasting results. Firstly, I was a huge fan of David Bowie, who takes on the role of ...

sunmeilan 24.08.2008 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence (DVD)

This movie is based on Sir Lauren Van der Post's novels 'The Seed and the Sower' and 'The Bar of Shadow,' and is one of those rare films, where if it does not better the book, at least it equals it. This film is not a 'Bridge Over the River Kwai' a 'Great Escape' or any other standard wartime films. In this film the line between the Japanese and the prisoners, is the subject most often explored and in the most beautiful and evocative of ways. The ...
...(Tom Conte) is a British soldier in a Japanese POW camp, where he endeavours to see both sides of the question of war- where he comes into conflict with his commanding officer (Jack Thompson) for co-operating with the Japanese, and with his prison guard Sergeant Hara (Takeshi Kitano.) A new POW comes to the camp- Jack Celliers (David Bowie) and between him and the camp commandent Captain Yonoi (Ryuichi Sakamoto) a strange and compelling relationship ...

AmberHall 01.04.2006 (11.04.2006) · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence (DVD)