#535: OSHIMA, Nagisa: Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983)

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OSHIMA, Nagisa (Japan)
Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence [1983]
Spine #535
Blu-ray


In this captivating, skewed World War II drama from Nagisa Oshima, David Bowie regally embodies Celliers, a British officer interned by the Japanese as a POW. Rock star Ryuichi Sakamoto (who also composed the film's hypnotic score) plays the camp commander, obsessed with the mysterious blond major, while Tom Conti is the British colonel Lawrence, who tries to bridge the emotional and language divides between captor and prisoner. Also featuring actor-director Takeshi Kitano in his first dramatic role, Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence is a multilayered, brutal, at times erotic tale of culture clash, and one of Oshima's great successes.

123 minutes
Color
Stereo
in English and Japanese
1:78:1 aspect ratio
Criterion Release 2010
Director/Writers


Based on the novel The Seed and the Sower by Sir Laurens van der Post.
Screenplay by Nagisa Oshima with Paul Mayersberg.

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

The Booklet

Thirty-two page booklet featuring an essay by film writer Chuck Stephens and reprinted interviews with director Oshima and actor Kitano.

Commentary

None.

The Oshima Gang

A 1983 making-of featurette.
Video interviews

With producer Jeremy Thomas, screenwriter Mayersberg, actor Conti, and actor-composer Sakamoto.
Hasten Slowly

An hour-long 1996 documentary about author van der Post, whose autobiographical novel was the basis for the film.
Original theatrical trailer

Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

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