Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence
“Java, 1942 — A clash of cultures, a test of the human spirit.”
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.
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Cast
60 people
David Bowie
Celliers
Known for
Labyrinth
The Prestige
Tom Conti
Lawrence
Known for
Oppenheimer
Derailed
Ryuichi Sakamoto
Yonoi
Known for
The Last Emperor
New Rose Hotel
Takeshi Kitano
Hara
Known for
Ghost in the Shell
Battle Royale
Jack Thompson
Hicksley
Known for
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
The Great Gatsby
Johnny Ohkura
Kanemoto
Known for
Boiling Point
Alistair Browning
De Jong
Also in
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Shortland Street
James Malcolm
Celliers' Brother
Also in
South Pacific
Chris Broun
Celliers (12 Years)
Yuya Uchida
Commandant of Military Prison
Known for
Black Rain
Zatoichi: Darkness Is His Ally
Ryūnosuke Kaneda
President of the Court
Known for
Godzilla vs. Biollante
Takashi Naito
Lieutenant Iwata
Known for
Spirited Away
From Up on Poppy Hill
Nagisa Ōshima Director · Paul Mayersberg Screenplay Laurens van der Post Author
Worldwide gross $2.3M · United States release August 26, 1983 · Produced in Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Australia
Box office
Worldwide gross
$2,306,560
Production
Recorded Picture Company
Production
National Film Trustee Company
Production
Antares-Nova
Production
Oshima Productions
Production
Broadbank Investments
Production
Asahi Broadcasting Corporation
Production
Universal Pictures
Studio
Japan · New Zealand · United Kingdom · Australia
Produced in
Languages
Original title
戦場のメリークリスマス
Original language
Japanese
Spoken on screen
English · Japanese
Release dates
France · May 11, 1983
Premiere · Cannes Film Festival
Japan · May 28, 1983
Theatrical
United States · August 26, 1983
Theatrical · New York City, New York
United States
September 2, 1983 · Theatrical
Australia
September 22, 1983 · Theatrical
Belgium
September 8, 1983 · Theatrical · Gent
Brazil
September 21, 1984 · Theatrical
Czechia
May 13, 2004 · TV · ČT2
Denmark
June 17, 1983 · Theatrical
Finland
October 14, 1983 · Theatrical
France
June 1, 1983 · Theatrical
Germany
December 2, 1983 · Theatrical
Ireland
December 9, 1983 · Theatrical
Italy
February 4, 1984 · Theatrical
Netherlands
June 9, 1983 · Theatrical
October 11, 2004 · Physical
May 7, 2013 · Physical
January 12, 2016 · TV · NPO 2
Portugal
December 16, 1983 · Theatrical · Porto
January 27, 1984 · Theatrical · Lisbon
South Korea
November 20, 2024 · Theatrical
Spain
December 2, 1983 · Theatrical
Sweden
August 26, 1983 · Theatrical
Taiwan
January 8, 2021 · Theatrical · re-release
United Kingdom
August 25, 1983 · Theatrical
More from Nagisa Ōshima
Other films they directed, best known first.
Some details come from TheTVDB.