Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (Japanese: Senjō no Merī Kurisumasu (戦場のメリークリスマス, Battlefield Merry Christmas?)), also known as Furyo in many European editions) is a 1983 film directed by Nagisa Oshima, produced by Jeremy Thomas and starring David Bowie, Tom Conti, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Yuya Uchida, and Takeshi Kitano.
It was written by Oshima and Paul Mayersberg and based on Laurens van der Post's experiences during World War II as a prisoner of war as depicted in his works The Seed and the Sower (1963) and The Night of the New Moon (1970). Sakamoto also wrote the musical score and the vocal theme "Forbidden Colours" featuring David Sylvian, which was a hit single in many territories.
The film was entered into the 1983 Cannes Film Festival.[1]
Plot
The film deals with the relationships among four men in a Japanese prisoner of war camp during the Second World War — Jack Celliers (Bowie), a rebellious prisoner with a guilty secret from his youth; Captain Yonoi (Sakamoto), the young camp commandant; Lieutenant Colonel John Lawrence (Conti), a British officer who has lived in Japan and speaks Japanese fluently; and Sergeant Hara (Kitano), with whom Lawrence develops a peculiar friendship.
Like Celliers, Yonoi, too, is tormented by guilt. Having been posted to Manchuria previously, he was unable to be in Tokyo with his Army comrades, the "Shining Young Officers" of Japan's February 26 Incident, a 1936 military coup d'état. When the coup fails, the young army officers are executed. Yonoi regrets not being able to share their patriotic sacrifice. Jack Celliers had betrayed his deformed younger brother while the two of them were attending boarding school. Although Celliers confesses this only to Lawrence, Captain Yonoi senses in Celliers a kindred spirit. He wants to replace the British camp commandant Colonel Hicksley with Celliers as spokesman for the prisoners.
The taboo of homosexuality, especially harsh in an otherwise ultranationalist and traditional environment, is suggested throughout the film. A Korean soldier is condemned to commit seppuku after being caught in an "improper" relationship with one of the Dutch prisoners. As the execution is carried out, the Dutch prisoner, who is forced to watch it along with the rest of the prisoners and the Japanese officials as well, bites his tongue and then dies of suffocation himself.
As Celliers is interned in the camp, Yonoi seems to develop a homoerotic fixation with him, often asking Hara about him, silently visiting him in the small hours when Celliers is confined. However, later on, Yonoi becomes enraged by Celliers' behaviour and has him buried in the ground up to his neck as a means of punishment.
As the allies approach the camp, all prisoners are prompted to form lines outside the barracks, including sick and moribund ones. The climax of the film is reached by then, when Celliers breaks the rank and walks decidedly in Yonoi's direction, only to end up resolutely kissing him in the cheek with a straight face. This is an unbearable offense to Yonoi's bushido honor code; he reaches out for his katana against Celliers, only to collapse under the conflicting feelings of vindicating himself from the offense suffered in front of his troops and his own feelings for Celliers, who is subsequently sentenced to death. Captain Yonoi himself is redeployed.
Four years later, Lawrence visits Sergeant Hara, who has now been imprisoned by the Allied forces. Hara reveals that he is going to be executed the next day. The two bid each other farewell for the last time. Just before Lawrence leaves, Hara happily wishes Lawrence a Merry Christmas.
Cast
- David Bowie - Maj. Jack 'Strafer' Celliers
- Tom Conti - Col. John Lawrence
- Ryuichi Sakamoto - Capt. Yonoi
- Takeshi Kitano - Sgt. Gengo Hara (as Takeshi)
- Jack Thompson - Group Capt. Hicksley
- Johnny Okura - Kanemoto (as Johnny Ohkura)
- Alistair Browning - De Jong
- James Malcolm - Celliers' Brother
- Chris Broun - Celliers aged 12
- Yuya Uchida - Commandant of Military Prison
- Ryunosuke Kaneda - President of the Court
- Takashi Naitô - Lt. Iwata
- Tamio Ishikura - Prosecutor
- Rokko Toura - Interpreter
- Kan Mikami - Lt. Ito
Soundtrack
All compositions by Ryuichi Sakamoto, except where noted. "Forbidden Colours" is sung by David Sylvian.
Track list:
- "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence"
- "Batavia"
- "Germination"
- "A Hearty Breakfast"
- "Before the War"
- "The Seed and the Sower"
- "A Brief Encounter"
- "Ride, Ride, Ride (Celliers' Brother's Song)"
- "The Fight"
- "Father Christmas"
- "Dismissed"
- "Assembly"
- "Beyond Reason"
- "Sowing the Seed"
- "23rd Psalm" (traditional)
- "Last Regrets"
- "Ride, Ride, Ride (Reprise)"
- "The Seed"
- "Forbidden Colours" (Sakamoto/David Sylvian)
The film is notable for its soundtrack, by Ryuichi Sakamoto. The main score, which bears the same title as the movie, ranks among Sakamoto's most well-known songs and made him known to a broader public. The soundtrack also contains the vocal version of this title track, better known as "Forbidden Colours" with lyrics sung and composed by David Sylvian.
There is a 12" vinyl remake version on the famous Italian record label DISCOMAGIC named "Clock On 5 - Theme From Furyo."[2]
A cover version of "Forbidden Colours" is included on Hollywood Mon Amour[3], a collection of songs made famous by their inclusion on soundtracks of movies made in the 1980s, rearranged by Marc Collin of Nouvelle Vague with Nadeah providing the vocals.
In 2000, a re-mix of Ryuichi Sakamoto's Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence called Heart of Asia was released in Europe by dance group Watergate.[4]
In 2003, Japanese singer Ai sampled this song in the R&B-oriented "Merry Christmas Mr. Laurence" (sic), the b-side on her single "My Friend".
In 2004, Croatian pianist Maksim Mrvica included a piano remix of "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence" on his third album, Variations Part I&II.
In 2008, Indonesian singer Anggun used a sample from this song on "Hymne a la vie" -- a track on her album Elevation.
In 2008, UK Hardcore producer Orbit1 remixed this song and called it Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence. It came out on the Hardcore Nation 2009.
In 2009, Japanese-American pop singer Hikaru Utada used a sample from this song on her second English-language album This Is the One, entitling her song "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence - FYI.". The lyrics reference to the movie as well[citation needed].
The song is also used (in edited form) as the theme song to the Atari XE port of International Karate (for the Sydney stage)
Japanese Post-Hardcore band FACT recorded a track by the title Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence on their self-titled album.
References
External links
