Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence

“

Java, 1942 - A clash of cultures, a test of the human spirit.

”

—Official tagline

Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (Japanese: 戦場のメリークリスマス "Senjō no Merī Kurisumasu") is a psychological drama/war film released in 1983.

In the film, a soldier is brought to a Japanese POW camp in Java. He soon begins to realize the effects his presence has on the warden, and feel compelled to set things right. The film was directed by Nagisa Ōshima and stars David Bowie, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Tom Conti and "Beat" Takeshi Kitano. It is based off of Laurens van der Post's 1963 novel The Seed and the Sower. The film is also sometimes known under the name Furyo. The film features a synthwave soundtrack courtesy of Sakamoto.

Victims

Prior to the Film

• Unnamed Japanese Soldier - Shot by the Japanese government.
  • Total - 1

During the Film

• Kanemoto - Forced into committing suicide by slitting his own guts under Yonoi's orders, then decapitated by Yonoi.
• Karl De Jong - Bled out after he accidentally bit off his own tongue after having a seizure.
• Unnamed Japanese Soldier - Stabbed in the chest by a rogue Japanese soldier.
• Unnamed Rogue Japanese Soldier - Committed suicide by slitting his own guts.
• Zhang - Executed off screen by Japanese soldiers under the orders of Sergeant Hara, mentioned.
• Unnamed POW - Died from exhaustion.
• Major Jack "Strafer" Celliers - Buried alive up to his head under the orders of Captain Gondo and executed off-screen.
• Captain Yonoi - Executed by allied soldiers off-screen, mentioned.
  • Total - 8

Deaths

• Total - 9
  • All Male

Kill Counts

1. Sergeant Gengo Hara - 1 (Incarcerated)
2. Captain Gondo - 1 (Unknown)
3. Captain Yonoi - 1 (Deceased)

Notes

• The February 26th uprising is mentioned in the film, which in real life lead to the execution of 19 soldiers. However, only one will be counted as Yonoi's friend is the only one who he mentions in the film.
• Although Hara is set to be executed the following day, the film ends before he is executed.
• It is unknown what happens to the other commanders of the camp.