CinemaOSMovie · 1983 · 2h 4m · R
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence

Java, 1942 — A clash of cultures, a test of the human spirit.

73%(552)IMDbDramaHistoryWar

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.

Directed byNagisa Ōshima

Play
Status
Released
Runtime
2h 4m
Language
JA
Released
May 28, 1983
Revenue
$2,306,560
Studios
Recorded Picture CompanyAsahi Broadcasting CorporationNational Film Trustee Company

Watch the

Trailers & teasers

3 videos
Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983) Original Trailer

Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983) Original Trailer

Official Trailer

Official Trailer

Trailer

Trailer

Featuring

Cast & crew

10 credited
Starring
David Bowie

David Bowie

Celliers

Tom Conti

Tom Conti

Lawrence

Ryuichi Sakamoto

Ryuichi Sakamoto

Yonoi

Takeshi Kitano

Takeshi Kitano

Hara

Jack Thompson

Jack Thompson

Hicksley

Johnny Ohkura

Johnny Ohkura

Kanemoto

Alistair Browning

Alistair Browning

De Jong

James Malcolm

Celliers' Brother

Chris Broun

Celliers (12 Years)

Yuya Uchida

Yuya Uchida

Commandant of Military Prison

Creative team
Directed by
Nagisa Ōshima
Nagisa Ōshima
Written by
Nagisa Ōshima
Nagisa Ōshima
Paul Mayersberg
Produced by
Jeremy Thomas
Jeremy Thomas

Keep watching

More like this

The Words That Remain

The Words That Remain

Film

Barton Fink7.5

Barton Fink

1991 · Film

Desert Hearts7.1

Desert Hearts

1985 · Film

The Silence of the Lambs8.3

The Silence of the Lambs

1991 · Film

Rome, Open City8.0

Rome, Open City

1945 · Film

The Shawshank Redemption8.7

The Shawshank Redemption

1994 · Film

Once Upon a Time in America8.4

Once Upon a Time in America

1984 · Film

The Devil Wears Prada7.4

The Devil Wears Prada

2006 · Film

Das Boot8.1

Das Boot

1981 · Film

Chocolat7.0

Chocolat

2000 · Film

Capote7.0

Capote

2005 · Film

The Man Who Invented Christmas6.8

The Man Who Invented Christmas

2017 · Film

Contempt7.0

Contempt

1963 · Film

Ronia: The Robber's Daughter7.0

Ronia: The Robber's Daughter

1984 · Film

The Celebration7.7

The Celebration

1998 · Film

Grbavica: The Land of My Dreams6.9

Grbavica: The Land of My Dreams

2006 · Film

The Apartment8.2

The Apartment

1960 · Film

Casablanca8.1

Casablanca

1943 · Film

The Last Decision10.0

The Last Decision

2025 · Film

A Maple Valley Christmas6.3

A Maple Valley Christmas

2022 · Film

Picked for you

Recommended movies

Letters from Iwo Jima7.5

Letters from Iwo Jima

2006 · Film

The Great Raid6.5

The Great Raid

2005 · Film

Escape from Sobibor7.2

Escape from Sobibor

1987 · Film

Flags of Our Fathers6.9

Flags of Our Fathers

2006 · Film

Pork Chop Hill6.7

Pork Chop Hill

1959 · Film

The Thin Red Line7.4

The Thin Red Line

1998 · Film

Slaughterhouse-Five6.5

Slaughterhouse-Five

1972 · Film

To End All Wars6.4

To End All Wars

2001 · Film

Waiting for the Barbarians5.9

Waiting for the Barbarians

2020 · Film

Bat★216.3

Bat★21

1988 · Film

Walking with the Enemy6.3

Walking with the Enemy

2014 · Film

Unbroken7.4

Unbroken

2014 · Film

Twelve O'Clock High7.2

Twelve O'Clock High

1949 · Film

Adam Resurrected6.1

Adam Resurrected

2008 · Film

King Rat7.1

King Rat

1965 · Film

The World Will Tremble7.5

The World Will Tremble

2025 · Film

Nuremberg7.6

Nuremberg

2025 · Film

Casualties of War7.2

Casualties of War

1989 · Film

Fires on the Plain7.6

Fires on the Plain

1959 · Film

The Last Full Measure7.3

The Last Full Measure

2020 · Film