Set in a prison camp in Japan during World War II (and without a doubt one of the strangest prison movies on this list), Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence is perhaps most notable for its magnificent and unforgettable central performance, which comes courtesy of the late David Bowie. Bowie is a force onto himself in this picture - not because he commands the screen with force, but because he does so with an effortlessness. Playing a British P.O.W., he is an ethereal presence - especially when compared to Takeshi Kitano, who stars here as a conflicted prison guard. The plot mostly concerns the relationships that develop between the prisoners and those charged with keeping them locked up, but it's not quite as simple as that (as is always the case). Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence is almost an art film, but its odd tone is what makes it special. It also features an unforgettable score by Ryuichi Sakomoto (who also stars), which lends the movie the melancholy that renders it a forgotten masterpiece.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
