Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence

Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence

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 (俘虜, Prisoner Of War?) in many European editions) is a 1983 film directed by Nagisa Oshima, produced by Jeremy Thomas and starring David Bowie, Tom Conti, Ryuichi Sakamoto 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 in competition for the Palme d'Or. Sakamoto's score also won the film a BAFTA Award for Best Film Music.