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Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence [VHS] [1983]

David Bowie (Actor), Tom Conti (Actor), Nagisa Oshima (Director) | Rated: Suitable for 15 years and over | Format: VHS Tape
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
Price: £12.50
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Product details

  • Actors: David Bowie, Tom Conti, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Takeshi Kitano, Jack Thompson
  • Directors: Nagisa Oshima
  • Language: English, Japanese
  • Classification: 15
  • Studio: Second Sight
  • VHS Release Date: 21 Jun 1999
  • Run Time: 124 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00004CJJH
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 171,863 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)

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Product Description

From Amazon.co.uk

A highly unusual war movie with as many detractors as fans, this English-language feature directed by Nagisa Oshima (In the Realm of the Senses) stars David Bowie as a silent, ethereal POW in a Japanese camp. Protesting--via his own enigmatic rebellion--the camp's brutal conditions and treatment of prisoners, Bowie's character earns the respect of the camp commandant (Ryuichi Sakamoto). While the two seem locked in an unspoken, spiritual understanding, another prisoner (Tom Conti) engages in a more conventional resistance against a monstrous sergeant (Takeshi). The film has a way of evoking as many questions as certainties and it is not always easy to understand the internal logic of the characters' actions. But that's generally true of Oshima's movies, in which the power of certain relationships is almost hallucinatory in self-referential intensity. The cast is outstanding, and Bowie is particularly fascinating in his alien way. --Tom Keogh

Product Description

During World War Two, English soldier Jack Celliers (David Bowie) arrives in a Japanese POW camp after an exhausting trial. Yonnoi (musician Ryuichi Sakamato, who also wrote the memorable soundtrack), the new camp commandant, becomes obsessed with breaking the new inmate's spirit, whilst Lieutenant Colonel Lawrence (Tom Conti) tries to mediate between them. As two different codes of honour clash, Yonnoi forces a confrontation with Celliers that brings them to the point of no return.

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
28 reviews
4.7 out of 5 stars
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
34 of 37 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars A powerful movie spoiled by a poor quality DVD transfer 7 Feb 2001
By A Customer
Format:DVD
This emotionally powerful film has excellent performances from all the lead roles. I would give it five stars, if it weren't that the DVD transfer were so poor. The image has low contrast and the soundtrack has some noticable breaks and other noises. See this movie, but be warned about the "Second Sight" edition.
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic- Crime to miss it 19 April 2005
By Taig
Format:DVD
Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence is a film which covers many things, on many different levels- the simplest being that of a war film. However to dismiss it as such would be to do an injustice to this superb bit of film making.

The tangled tensions of this prisoner of war camp make for riveting viewing as two cultures clash between their views of honour. The sergeant (Takeshi Kitano) cannot reconcile his friendship with Lawrence (Tom Conte) with his view of Westerner's being weak and dishonourable. In one particulary memorable scene Kitano declares all Englishmen to be homosexual, and thus views his superior's deeper relationship with Bowie as suspect

The strange subliminal attraction between Celliers and Yonoi adds another depth to this already layered film, as Yonoi fights to understand what can give Cellier's such courage to face death without Yonoi's reassurance of Samurai ancestors.

Sakamoto gives a moving performance of a man displaced from time, longing for the simpler times of war and honour, caught in a limbo between his attraction to celliers and his need to do what was right.

The music was beautiful and the cinematography excellent. I highly recommend this film for anyone even if you are not interested in war films- I'm not myself

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Your heart will never be the same again. 24 July 2001
By Alan Hodder
Format:VHS Tape
I'll keep it brief, sort of. It takes a lot to get me any way emotional over a film, but of all the countless numbers of films I've seen, the final scene of "Merry Christmas Mr.Lawrence" is the ONLY time I've ever cried watching a movie! It's so emotional and moving that it has to be the most powerful scene I've ever witnessed. Overall, a superb film with Conti taking the honours for his outstanding performance as Mr.Lawrence. Awesome.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars UNDERRATED
This has now become my second favourite film of all time...to say the least. I can't understand why it has gone so unnoticed in the years after its release. Read more
Published 2 days ago by Walker Zupp
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
An excellent film and Bowie and Tom Conti at their best. A pity then that the colour register on this edition of the DVD is poor.
Published 1 month ago by Owlet Cottage
5.0 out of 5 stars a good film from the 80's
its just a great film , bit of ham acting , but its a good watch. it macks you think
Published 3 months ago by bri
5.0 out of 5 stars Just as enjoyable many years later..
Finally managed to get my hands on this DVD. Brilliant film, David Bowie and Tom Conti were excellent in this very moving account of life in a Japanese POW camp
Published 4 months ago by G Man
3.0 out of 5 stars dvd
the item appeared to be a copy but cannot confirm. Hoping the quality will be there when it is finally viewed
Published 4 months ago by Mrs Karen Salt
5.0 out of 5 stars Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
I loved this film when I first saw it on TV, David Bowie is excellent, the film is quite sad but keeps your interest throughout. Read more
Published 5 months ago by DollyD
5.0 out of 5 stars The man who fell to Java
A powerful masculine film played out with a strong British/Japanese cast who depict a film about the incarcerated lives of the Second World War, grounded upon the master slave... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Dr. Delvis Memphistopheles
5.0 out of 5 stars great film
I have always loved this film - the message is clear to me - forgive is the right thing - merry christmas to all
Published 7 months ago by De-de
5.0 out of 5 stars Good drama
It was good seeing this again. I first saw it several years ago and found it thought provoking. It's not your usual run of the mill story and this makes a change. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Mavourneen M.
5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST PURCHASE!
This DVD/FILM is a must purchase for your dvd library. Wonderful Music Score which you never forget and a Prisoner of War story with a difference. Read more
Published 22 months ago by I. Buchan
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