{"product_id":"merry-christmas-mr-lawrence-戦場のメリークリスマス-original-re-release-japanese-movie-poster-2021-b2-size-51-73-cm-s201","title":"“Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence” (戦場のメリークリスマス), Original Japanese 4K Restoration Re-Release Movie Poster 2021, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) S201","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is an \u003cstrong\u003eoriginal Japanese B2 theatrical poster\u003c\/strong\u003e, printed for the \u003cstrong\u003e2021 Japanese theatrical re-release of Nagisa Oshima’s 1983 masterpiece \u003cem\u003eMerry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e (戦場のメリークリスマス), presented in a newly restored \u003cstrong\u003e4K version\u003c\/strong\u003e. The restoration opened across Japan from \u003cstrong\u003e16 April 2021\u003c\/strong\u003e, returning Oshima’s landmark film to cinemas in a major nationwide revival. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStarring \u003cstrong\u003eDavid Bowie, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Tom Conti and Takeshi Kitano\u003c\/strong\u003e, the film is set in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp on Java during the Second World War. Rather than depicting conventional battlefield action, Oshima builds the drama around the psychological and cultural collision between prisoners and captors—most memorably the increasingly charged fascination of Captain Yonoi, played by Sakamoto, with the defiant British officer Major Jack Celliers, played by Bowie. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePoster design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a \u003cstrong\u003esuperb and highly collectible modern Japanese design\u003c\/strong\u003e, created specifically for the film’s prestigious 4K restoration campaign.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition is dominated by monumental portraits of \u003cstrong\u003eRyuichi Sakamoto as Captain Yonoi\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eDavid Bowie as Major Celliers\u003c\/strong\u003e, placed shoulder-to-shoulder against an extraordinarily vivid \u003cstrong\u003ehot-pink background\u003c\/strong\u003e. Their faces occupy almost the entire upper half of the sheet, turning the poster into an immediate study of the film’s central emotional and cultural confrontation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAcross the foreground, a \u003cstrong\u003eJapanese sword cuts diagonally through a lush arrangement of hibiscus flowers\u003c\/strong\u003e. It is an exceptionally effective visual metaphor: the severity and potential violence of the blade is softened—and simultaneously intensified—by the fragile tropical flowers surrounding it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe imagery perfectly captures the contradictions running through Oshima’s film: \u003cstrong\u003eviolence and tenderness, discipline and desire, East and West, masculine authority and suppressed emotion\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe large Japanese title:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e戦場のメリークリスマス\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eappears in elegant white lettering against the deep black lower field, while the title \u003cstrong\u003e“Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence”\u003c\/strong\u003e is written behind it in sweeping gold script.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe right-hand Japanese copy reads:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e「大島渚監督、最大のヒット作。」\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e— \u003cstrong\u003e“Nagisa Oshima’s biggest hit.”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the left appears:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e「伝説の名作がついに4K化。最後の大規模ロードショー！」\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e— approximately:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“The legendary masterpiece finally in 4K. The final major roadshow!”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat language formed part of the official 2021 campaign, which promoted the restoration as a major return to cinemas. Contemporary Japanese screenings likewise described the film as Oshima’s biggest hit and the revival as a major theatrical roadshow. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe small pink notation at lower right:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e4K修復版\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e— \u003cstrong\u003e“4K Restored Version”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eimmediately identifies this as material from the \u003cstrong\u003e2021 restoration campaign\u003c\/strong\u003e, rather than an original 1983 poster.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFilm significance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMerry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence\u003c\/em\u003e remains one of the most internationally recognised films of \u003cstrong\u003eNagisa Oshima\u003c\/strong\u003e, one of the central figures of post-war Japanese cinema.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe casting itself has become legendary. \u003cstrong\u003eDavid Bowie\u003c\/strong\u003e brings an extraordinary physical and emotional presence to Celliers, while \u003cstrong\u003eRyuichi Sakamoto\u003c\/strong\u003e, in one of his earliest major acting roles, plays Yonoi and also composed the film’s celebrated score.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSakamoto’s music became one of the defining elements of the film and earned the \u003cstrong\u003eBAFTA Award for Best Film Music\u003c\/strong\u003e. In Japan, the film received major recognition at the Mainichi Film Awards, including awards for \u003cstrong\u003eBest Japanese Film, Director, Screenplay, Supporting Actor and Music\u003c\/strong\u003e. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe film originally competed at the \u003cstrong\u003e1983 Cannes Film Festival\u003c\/strong\u003e, and its unusual fusion of Japanese and Western performers, wartime drama, psychological conflict and Sakamoto’s unforgettable music has ensured its lasting international reputation. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003e2021 restoration\u003c\/strong\u003e was especially significant because both \u003cem\u003eMerry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence\u003c\/em\u003e and Oshima’s \u003cem\u003eIn the Realm of the Senses\u003c\/em\u003e were restored from digital materials and released consecutively in Japanese cinemas, allowing a new generation to experience two of his defining works theatrically. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNear Mint.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an \u003cstrong\u003eexceptionally well-preserved example\u003c\/strong\u003e, with \u003cstrong\u003ebrilliant colour saturation, immaculate blacks, crisp typography and superb overall presentation\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe extraordinary \u003cstrong\u003ehot-pink background remains intensely vivid\u003c\/strong\u003e, while the photographic portraits of Bowie and Sakamoto, floral imagery, sword and gold lettering retain excellent definition. There are \u003cstrong\u003eno significant condition issues affecting the artwork, margins or title\u003c\/strong\u003e, and the poster presents extremely cleanly throughout.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA particularly strong example of what is already one of the \u003cstrong\u003emost visually sophisticated modern posters created for the film\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOnce framed, this will make an exceptional display piece.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlease review the photograph carefully—it shows the exact poster for sale.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis is not a reproduction or decorative reprint. It is an original Japanese theatrical poster from the official 2021 4K restoration campaign.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCertificate of Authenticity included.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e","brand":"Japan Poster Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57250774122874,"sku":null,"price":200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0424\/8859\/4591\/files\/wall-shelf-with-ornaments-2026-09-10T054707.227.jpg?v=1788986844","url":"https:\/\/japanposter.co.uk\/products\/merry-christmas-mr-lawrence-%e6%88%a6%e5%a0%b4%e3%81%ae%e3%83%a1%e3%83%aa%e3%83%bc%e3%82%af%e3%83%aa%e3%82%b9%e3%83%9e%e3%82%b9-original-re-release-japanese-movie-poster-2021-b2-size-51-73-cm-s201","provider":"Japan Poster Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}