First 5 Shots - Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence

Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence

Nagisa Oshima, 1983

Lead actors: Tom Conti, David Bowie

Production companies: 

Distributors:

POSSIBLE POINTS OF INFLUENCE:

- In such a short time to set up the themes of the film I probably will be wanting to create a protagonist/antagonist binary, and create antipathy for the audience

The first five shots form the opening scene 

Foreknowledge: Unlike in The Conjuring, I can follow the preferred reading, so my foreknowledge will affect how I evaluate the film.

IN A NUTSHELL

The film tells the story of British soldiers in a Japenese prisoner of war. The two characters first introduced will end the story. 

SHOT 1

The sound of the lizard escaping will create a sense of danger, and signifies the antagonistic character traits of the character about to enter the screen. Lighting is blue-green, dark. Menacing place, this isn't a good place.

SHOT 2

A close-up is used in order to capture the mean facial expression that will create antipathy within the audience. Sound is used as the camera pans, a Western audience will recognise it as foreign and most likely Japanese or Chinese, although if they are not experts in both languages, they will not get the preferred reading right at the beginning

SHOT 3

Subtitles, an editing technique, are used over the Japanese words. This tells us at least this version is targeted at English-speaking audience, although that was already clear through the Universal logo. Lawrence lying on the bed is used to denote who is superior. Just as the scene cuts another character is introduced, as he speaks English his regional identity as English is also given.

SHOT 4

The mise-en-scène, him lying on the floor also shows his inferior status, that he is in the same situation. However through the sound the dialogue exposes his more aggressive and rebellious character. Moustache, is this a more negative. Stereotypical portrayal of British army officer?

SHOT 5

Sound is used so you can hear the agony, the audience feels sympathy for the struck down man and even greater antipathy for the guard.











The lighting:

They are all lit in the same way. There are no POV-shots from any of the guards, which would be used to further anchor a strong protagonist/antagonist binary along with the aggressive language and physical intimidation. Is this already signifying that despite the brutal nature of the Japanese guards the humanity will still come through throughout the film, and the audience will empathise with the execution of the tyrant guard at the beginning?