Review of Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983) by Jeff R — 19 Aug 2010

Jeremy Thomas the producer of the film has, it turns out, been involved in a lot of my favourite films. The Hit, Sexy Beast, Bad Timing. Though I suspect I won't return to any of them as reverentially as I do to this prisoner of war film which I first saw,amazingly, 27 years ago.

Bowie plays a good part as a difficult prisoner who challenges the existing regime and ultimately sacrifices himself. A wonderful sound track by Sakamoto who plays the part of Captain Yonoi. He sees in Bowie's Jack Celliers someone who is as perfect and radical as Christ or his brother officers who were killed for challenging the Japanese regime in the 1936 mutiny. Tom Conti takes his best part in the title role as a sympathetic officer who tries to bridge the warring cultures.

The Aussie Jack Thompson as the British commanding officer plays his stereotype brilliantly. At one point asking Lawrence what school he went to. On hearing the reply, 'Winchester', he walks away triumphantly. The smallest victory. Even though I have DVD 'extras' it typically doesn't answer the question I have - "who came up with this exchange." I can't believe it was Oshima the co-writer and director. He may be a great director but that joke needed an English public school mentality. I wonder how many micro level Japanese references I didn't get?

Finally, the signature song from the soundtrack was set to words by David Sylvian. I've been playing that for 27 years as well. "My love wears forbidden colours".