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January 23, 2015
BOOK | "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence: The 30-Year Truth" Sheds Light on Little-Known Truths of a Masterpiece Film
BOOK | Unveiling the Untold Truths Behind a Masterpiece Film
‘Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence’ – The 30-Year Truth
Tokyo News Service has published ‘Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence’ – The 30-Year Truth, a book compiling the documentary that aired on WOWOW last January. It sheds light on the untold truths of this cinematic masterpiece, including previously unreleased testimonies that were not shown in the broadcast.
Text by YANAKA Tomomi
Rare Archival Photos from Filming and Release, Plus an Interview with Director Oshima
‘Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence,’ the signature work of director Nagisa Oshima, who passed away in January 2013, depicts the emotional exchanges between men in extreme conditions within a Japanese POW camp in Java during the Pacific War.
The unconventional casting of David Bowie, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and Beat Takeshi became a major talking point, leading to a huge hit. A Blu-ray was released in the fall of 2013, and even into 2014, it continued to captivate audiences, topping the charts for old movie rentals at TSUTAYA.
However, it is said that there were several major hurdles to overcome before the film's completion. Many involved parties, including Ryuichi Sakamoto, who played Yonoi and composed the music, Oshima’s wife Akiko Koyama, and producer Masato Harada, share their testimonies. Furthermore, comments have also been contributed by Beat Takeshi and David Bowie.
In addition, the book includes rare archival photos such as stills from the time of filming and release, and the original production budget proposal, along with an interview with director Oshima from that era. Through the testimonies of many involved, the secrets of this timeless masterpiece, loved across borders, are now revealed.
‘Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence’ – The 30-Year Truth
Release Date | January 26 (Monday)
Publisher | Tokyo News Service
Format | A5
Price | ¥2,300