Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence

Starring David Bowie and Ryūichi Sakamoto, Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence is a drama exploring the complex relationships between East and West. Set during World War II in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp, the story centers on two men: Major Jack Celliers (David Bowie), a rebellious and enigmatic prisoner, and Captain Yonoi (Ryūichi Sakamoto), the strict camp commander who is both fascinated and tormented by Celliers’ defiance. Between them arises a strange dichotomy of attraction and repulsion that challenges the dynamics of power. Previously screened as part of the Ōshima retrospective, the film returns to the Batalha screen—just before the Christmas break.