Edition |
Widescreen. |
Description |
2 videodiscs (123 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in. + 1 booklet (28 pages : color illustrations ; 19 cm) inserted in container. |
Series |
The Criterion collection ; 535 |
|
Criterion collection ; 535.
|
System Details |
DVD; Region 1, NTSC; Dolby digital surround 2.0 stereo; widescreen presentation, preserving the 1.78:1 aspect ratio of the original theatrical exhibition, enhanced for 16:9 televisions. |
Language |
In English and Japanese with optional subtitles in English. |
Note |
Based on the novel "The seed and the sower" by Sir Laurens Van der Post. |
Cast |
David Bowie (Celliers), Tom Conti (Lawrence), Ryuichi Sakamoto (Yonoi), Takeshi [Kitano] (Hara), Jack Thompson (Hicksley). |
Credits |
Director of photography, Toichiro Narushima ; production designer, Jusho Toda ; music, Ryuichi Sakamoto ; editor, Tomoyo Oshima ; interpreter, Didi Dickson. |
Note |
Originally produced as a motion picture in 1983. |
Summary |
In a Japanese prison camp on Java in 1942, two British officers, John Lawrence and Jack Celliers, encounter camp commander Yonoi and his sergeant Hara. Things had been going pretty well, until charismatic, rebellious Celliers arrived. Yonoi is a devotee of the samurai ideal; neither he nor Hara can understand the stoic way in which the British prisoners accept their situation of defeat. Lawrence speaks Japanese, and ceaselessly tries to mediate between the prisoners and their overseers, translating both the words and the values of the two races. Celliers' attitude, however, is more comprehensible to Yonoi. He and Celliers arrive at a sort of détente, based on an admiration for the other, but this eventually turns into a contest of wills as the camp's carefully nurtured equilibrium is destroyed. |
Contents |
Disc one. The film Opening sequence -- Disgraceful incident -- "A bloody farce" -- Firing squad -- New prisoner -- "We want to win" -- "Do you feel uneasy?" -- "We're all wrong" -- Flowers and food -- Escape -- "We must punish someone" -- "Something's changed" -- "Ride right through the day" -- Father Christmas -- "Go back!" -- "Things will be different now" -- 1946 -- Closing credits -- Color bars (1982) (123 min.); Trailer (3 min.). |
|
Disc two. The supplements: Featurettes The Oshima gang: the making of 'Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence' / Mr. Lawrence Productions (2005) (30 min.) -- Paul Mayersberg: On the screenplay (2010) (28 min.) -- Conti, Sakamoto, and Thomas: On location (2010) (40 min.) -- Ryuichi Sakamoto: On the music (2010) (18 min.) -- Hasten slowly: The journey of Sir Laurens van der Post / Lemle Pictures presents ; a film by Mickey Lemle ; produced and directed by Mickey Lemle ; produced by Lemle Pictures, Inc. in association with South African Broadcasting Co. (1996) (55 min.); Booklet contains the essays "Lawrence of Shinjuki" by Chuck Stephens, "Oshima: Sex, militarism, and empire" an interview of Nagisa Oshima by Tadao Sato, and "Ten questions for Kitano on Oshima" translated from the Japanese by Fumiko Takagi. |
Subject |
Van der Post, Laurens -- Film adaptations.
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Van der Post, Laurens. (OCoLC)fst00033435
|
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World War (1939-1945) (OCoLC)fst01180924
|
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World War, 1939-1945 -- Drama.
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Prisoners of war -- Drama.
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Soldiers -- Psychology -- Drama.
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War -- Psychological aspects -- Drama.
|
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Prisoners of war -- Great Britain -- Drama.
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World War, 1939-1945 -- Prisoners and prisons, Japanese -- Drama.
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World War, 1939-1945 -- Concentration camps -- Indonesia -- Java -- Drama.
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Java (Indonesia) -- Drama.
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Concentration camps. (OCoLC)fst00872933
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Prisoners of war. (OCoLC)fst01077227
|
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Soldiers -- Psychology.
(OCoLC)fst01125290
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War -- Psychological aspects.
(OCoLC)fst01170363
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Great Britain. (OCoLC)fst01204623
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Indonesia -- Java.
(OCoLC)fst01244461
|
Chronological Term |
1939-1945
|
Genre/Form |
Motion pictures, Japanese.
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War films.
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Biographical films.
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Historical films.
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Feature films.
|
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Video recordings for the hearing impaired.
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Fiction films.
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Film adaptations.
|
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Biographical films. (OCoLC)fst01710277
|
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Drama. (OCoLC)fst01423879
|
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Feature films. (OCoLC)fst01710384
|
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Fiction films. (OCoLC)fst01710264
|
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Film adaptations. (OCoLC)fst01710491
|
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Historical films. (OCoLC)fst01710314
|
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Video recordings for the hearing impaired. (OCoLC)fst01710450
|
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War films. (OCoLC)fst01710402
|
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War films.
|
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Biographical films.
|
|
Historical films.
|
|
Feature films.
|
Added Author |
Thomas, Jeremy. Producer.
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Ōshima, Nagisa, 1932-2013. Screenwriter. Director.
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Mayersberg, Paul. Screenwriter.
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Bowie, David. Actor.
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Conti, Tom. Actor.
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Sakamoto, Ryūichi, 1952-2023. Actor. Composer.
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Bīto Takeshi. Actor.
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Thompson, Jack, 1940- Actor.
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Lemle, Mickey. Director. Producer.
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Van der Post, Laurens.
Seed and the sower.
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Lemle Pictures, Inc.
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South African Broadcasting Corporation.
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National Film Trustee Company.
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Antares-Nova N.V.
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Recorded Picture Company.
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Ōshima Nagisa Purodakushon.
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BS Asahi (Firm)
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Broadbank Investments Limited.
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Criterion Collection (Firm)
|
ISBN |
1604653159 |
|
9781604653151 |
Standard No. |
715515061919 |
Music No. |
CC1928D The Criterion Collection |