मेरी क्रिसमस, Mr. सॉरेन्स

Based on Laurens van der Post's "The Seed and the Sower", "Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence" is an involving, almost unbearably moving and incredibly humane film. While Bowie toplines, the real star is Tom Conti as the eponymous British Officer trying to reconcile his respect for Japanese culture and innate humanity with the barbarity of the POW camp. Bowie has often been criticised for his acting, yet aside from a rather laughable flashback sequence where he impersonates a schoolboy, he is convincing as a mysterious and spirited "soldier's soldier" who has a beguiling effect on the young officer commanding the camp, played by Ryuichi Sakamoto, who quotes Shakespeare and issues brutal orders in almost the same breath.

Sakamoto, who is also a pioneer of electronic music with the Yellow Magic Orchestra, also wrote the soundtrack, including the famous "Forbidden Colours" theme (you probably know this even if you don't know where it's from) which conjures up the atmosphere of regret, lost love and repressed heartbreak in which we see the strange, unrequited love of Sakamoto's character for Bowie's. This film is about this impossible unrequited love and about the struggle of human values in wartime. As Lawrence (Conti) says to a Japanese Officer facing execution after the war; he is now the victim of "men who are sure they are right", just as in the camp the Japanese were sure they were right. The last scene between the decent, humane Lawrence and this officer, who was by turns hearty and brutal in the camp, is one of the most heartbreaking ever committed to celluloid.

It's 1942 in a Japanese POW camp in Java. Sgt. Hara is a sadistic guard unable to understand the prisoners' willingness to accept shame. British officer Col. John Lawrence is the Japanese speaking leader of the prisoners. Camp commander Capt. Yonoi joins in the court-martial of Maj. Jack Celliers (David Bowie) for leading a native revolt against the Japanese. Celliers is adjudicated a POW and Yonoi takes an interest in him.

These are four compelling characters. Tom Conti is solid. Ryuichi Sakamoto is interesting. Takeshi Kitano is absolutely brilliant. David Bowie delivers a mercurial performance. I want the plot to be bigger and more intense. It's also a bit long and meanders in the second half. I do love the final scenes with Hara and Lawrence.

SPOILER: I saw this movie when it came out more than 17 years ago. At the time a big deal was made about David Bowie being in it. He is, and does a fine job, but the movie isn't about his character. It is far more about the differences between East and West, and the cruelty of war. I was able to see it again last week on a cable channel.

To fully appreciate MCMR, try to understand the culture of both the captors and the prisoners at the time. To the prisoners, their existence in the camp is an unfortunate result of war, and should be temporary and not a life or death experience. To the Japanese captors, the prisoners who surrendered rather than died fighting are cowards, beneath the notice of the captors and likely not even viewed as human beings. They are expendable. But first, in this particular camp, there is an effort to "educate" the prisoners about the way a *true* warrior lives life (and dies). That is where the true conflict begins.

There are multiple physical and psychological struggles going on in MCMR. There is even some homoeroticism, though it isn't fully explained. There is certainly a lot of sadness, for characters on both sides. This point is brought home at the end, when the roles are reversed for two of the characters.

Even today, I can hum several parts of the score to MCMR, and they make me melancholy as I recall scenes from the movie. If you like movies that delve into the darker side of the human spirit (with some lightness thrown in), check out MCML. I rated it an 8.

Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, is one of those typical gems that you don't see that often because they are almost or very often underrated. I use the phrase typical because it is very much like that to underrate a non-mainstream movie like this one.

The story sets in Indonesia in the second world war, and tells the tale of a couple of British soldiers out in a Japanese camp for prisoners of war.

It gives us insight between the raging camp of the British soldiers with their Japanses guards. It tells the tale of prisoner Mayor Jack Celliers, a rebellious and confronting individual. It tells the tale of Prisoner Kolonel John Lawrence, who tries to build bridges between the two cultures who collide ever so often. It tells the tale of prison camp leader Captain Yonoi, who makes an effort in running things smoothly with understanding for his prisoners, but who, by the arrival of Mayor Jack Celliers, is being pressured, and discovers a whole new side of emotional understanding. It tells the tale of ward Seargant Hara, who doesn't seem to want to understand the prisoners, and would rather execute them than have them here.

Those 4 main characters come to interact with each other in very interesting ways, and the whole story rises to a dramatic climax which leaves it's impact.

The first degree acting makes this one of the most important things to watch this movie. Both British music legend David Bowie (As Jack Celliers) as well as Japanese music sensation Ryuichi Sakamoto (as Captain Yonoi) both have the lead in this epic picture. For Bowie it isn't this first time he appears on the big screen (The man who fell to earth, The Hunger),but it can be said that this is the role for which he will be remembered. Debuting here, Ryuichi Sakamoto plays the arrogant, and piped down captain Yonoi, and he doesn't make a bad figure with this. Truth is both musicians play very good, but the best parts are for debuting (at the time) comedian Takeshi Kitano (Srgt. Hara Ginko, and stage actor Tom Conti (John Lawrence) who steal the show. Conti's uptight and friendly character gives a lot of sympathetic gestures from the audience, and Takeshi has both the laughs and cry's (Watch the final scene) at his hand, for playing such a funny bastard.

Nagisa Oshima's direction is strong, and he leaves room for artistic influence for both cast and crew. He knows what he wants too show, and doesn't make the mistake of being to dramatic, or being to soft, on crimes that his fellow country committed in 1945. He stays realistic which works as a pro for this film.

The cinematography is beautiful, as well as the set and surroundings, but mostly, it is the score, the music, written by Sakamoto which leaves the most impression. A big plus, on all fronts and a absolute classic in it's genre. A must have and must see.

I first saw this on IFC one night and was enthralled by it. Apparently there are two versions of the film, one with english subtitles and one without. I saw the version without the subtitles. See the film like this put you in the position of the prisoners, not understanding what is being said around you, and having to rely on translators, who in a prison camp were few. The film starts off with Japanese icon Takeshi Kitano walking into a hut and waking up Col. Lawrence (played by Tom Conti). Lawrence's superior protests this and Sgt. Hara (Kitano) yells something to him in Japanese. While walking out of the hut The superior (don't recall his name but he was played by Jack Thompson) orders another soldier to follow him, Hara protests and uses the scabbard of his sword and hits him in the eye, Hara walks out and Thompson yells "B**tards!" (or something similar).

We then see Lawrence following Hara and then Ryuichi Sakamoto's beautiful, eerie music starts off the opening credits. I won't dive any deeper into the plot, as one should witness it for themselves. The film shows us how the prisoners and the guards are not all that different, they both view themselves as being right, when at one point in the film some one says no one is right in war. The film also shows us the physical and the mental abuse the prisoners had to live with day in and day out.

Besides dealing with the war it also shows how man deals with events from the past as far as ones childhood, But in this film it actually works, not like in countless others, and you do feel attached to the characters.

A lot has been said about David Bowie's performance as Major. Jack Celliers, who despite the title of the film is the lead character and does an excellent job portraying a burnt out commando with a past he is afraid to face.

Shortly after seeing the unsubbed version, I saw the subbed version. Which is good in its own right, but I feel the film doesn't have the same impact if you know what is going to happen at every corner, now about half of the film is in Japanese for those with patience it pays off. By not knowing whats going on it puts you in the position of the prisoners themselves.

The film is a beautiful, tragic look at the atrocities man commits to himself. I encourage film and WW II buffs looking for something different to give it a chance. Another unseen by many gem directed by Nagisa Oshima. ****/****