Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence [Criterion Collection] [Blu-ray]

Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence [Criterion Collection] [Blu-ray]

Director: Nagisa Oshima Cast: David Bowie
David Bowie
, Tom Conti
Tom Conti
, Ryuichi Sakamoto
Ryuichi Sakamoto
, Takeshi
Takeshi
, Jack Thompson
Jack Thompson
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence [Criterion Collection] [Blu-ray]

Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence [Criterion Collection] [Blu-ray]

Director: Nagisa Oshima Cast: David Bowie
David Bowie
, Tom Conti
Tom Conti
, Ryuichi Sakamoto
Ryuichi Sakamoto
, Takeshi
Takeshi
, Jack Thompson
Jack Thompson

Blu-ray (Wide Screen)

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Overview

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.

Product Details

Release Date: 09/22/2010
UPC: 0715515062015
Original Release: 1983
Rating: R
Source: Criterion
Sound: [Dolby Digital Stereo]
Language: English
Time: 2:03:00
Sales rank: 3,838

Special Features

The Oshima Gang, a 1983 Making-0f Featurette; New Video Interviews with Producer Jeremy Thomas, Screenwriter Paul Mayersberg, Actor Tom Conti, and Actor-Composer Ryuichi Sakamoto; Hasten Slowly, an hour-long 1996 Documentary about Author Laurens van der Post, whose Autobiographical novel was the basis for the film; Original Theatrical Trailer; New and Improved English subtitle translation; Plus: a Booklet featuring an essay by film writer Chuck Stephens and reprinted Interviews with Director Nagisa Oshima and Actor Takeshi Kitano

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
David Bowie Maj. Jack 'Strafer' Celliers
Tom Conti Col. John Lawrence
Ryuichi Sakamoto Capt. Yonoi,Composer
Takeshi Sgt. Gengo Hara
Jack Thompson Hicksley-Ellis
Johnny Okura Kanemoto
Alistair Browning DeJong
James Malcolm Celliers' Brother
Christopher Broun Celliers (age 12)
Yuya Uchida Military Prison Commandant
Ryunosuke Kaneda President of the Court
Naito Takashi Lt. Iwata
Tamio Ishikura Prosecutor
Rokko Toura Interpreter
Kan Mikami Lt. Ito
Yuji Honma Pfc. Yajima
Daisuke Iijima Cpl. Ueki
Hideo Murota New Camp Commandant
Barry Dorking Chief Doctor
Geoff Clendon Australian Doctor
Grant Bridger P.O.W. Officer
Marcus Campbell P.O.W.
Colin Francis P.O.W.
Richard Hoare P.O.W.
Martin Ibbertson P.O.W.
Marc Berg P.O.W.
Rob Jayne P.O.W.
Richard Mills P.O.W.
Mark Penrose P.O.W.
Taketoshi Nait? Lt. lwata
Richard Adams Actor
Chris Broun Jack (boy)
Christopher Brown Celliers at Age 12
Takeshi Kitano Sgt. Gengo Hara

Technical Credits
Terry Glinwood Executive Producer,Producer
Masato Hara Executive Producer,Producer
Geoffrey Nethercott Executive Producer,Producer
Eiko Oshima Executive Producer,Screenwriter
Jeremy Thomas Producer
Paul Mayersberg Screenwriter
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