Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence

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Antonio T I first saw this film when I was 17, then I watched it again at 45. The film had just as strong on impact on me the second time round, all those years later. This is one of the most moving (if not THE most moving) films I have ever seen in my life. It has a strange, almost surreal quality to it, and must be seen late at night, on your own (to ensure no pollution on your experience of it from other people's presence). It is one of the few films I have seen that genuinely takes me away from reality and places me into a slightly unsettled, melancholic and intensely emotional state of mind. The acting from Ryuchi Sakamoto, David Bowie and Tom Conti are first class. And of course the soundtrack by maestro Sakamoto is of the best I have ever heard in film music. The most striking thing about this film is how it leaves you ruminating over it for weeks after you have seen it. It makes you feel like you have experienced something truly special that hardly anyone else knows about. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/20/25 Full Review CodyZamboni Z Overall, I really didn't connect with this movie emotionally, Surprising given the subject matter, I did like the different direction it took half way through, with the abrupt flashbacks, And they made sense as movie went along, the singing was an act of strength, But it wasn't enough to make this movie noteworthy. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/28/25 Full Review Alejandro E World War II drama in an atypical tone, as it is not necessarily inspired by real events; Its greatest support is addressing issues such as the clash of cultures, guilt, shame and forgiveness. Those who like this genre will be grateful. Especially fans of the "rock chameleon" David Bowie. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/23/24 Full Review Narawit Max P Very weird story telling with no clear direction (which I think is a plus as it keeps audiences excited). Good movie for Christmas that kind of give you something although you aren't really sure what it is. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 12/26/23 Full Review Yogesh S For a film that was released in 1983 (and ipso, shot in '81/'82), this is a startlingly beautiful film about war, ethics, morality and what it takes to be a soldier. It also exposes the brutal truth about war in the final poignant scene - that in most cases, neither of the adversaries is right in a war. The production quality is beautiful, the acting sublime, the setting authentic and the music score by the maestro Ryuichi Sakamoto is haunting. Don't miss this watch if you want your hear to get stirred by some thought provoking cinema! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/29/23 Full Review Ev Solid performances, the last scene has stuck with me for a couple of weeks, now. The themes and subtext worked enough to make it worthwhile. Ebert's review pointing out how the American and Japanese actors were acting like they were in different movies is apt and kind of keeps it from being a must see for me. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 07/05/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence

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