Review of Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983) by Hunter D — 08 Sep 2011
A thematically erotic exploration of the relationships between the captors and the captives at a Japanese concentration camp during World War II. David Bowie's powerful screen charisma begs the question as to why he never became a huge movie star, and Ryuichi Sakamoto (who also composed the score) is equally powerful.
Takeshi Kitano makes his dramatic debut here, and provides the movie's most memorable moments, particularly the tearjerking final scene, in which Kitano's smiling babyface will melt even the blackest of hearts.
It's no wonder he was a beloved children's entertainer in Japan before he moved on to a rich directing and acting career. This is a film that is seldom discussed, but well worth seeing.
This review of Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983) was written by Hunter D on 08 Sep 2011.
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence has generally received positive reviews.
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