In 1942 British soldier Jack Celliers (David Bowie) comes to a Japanese prison camp. The camp is run by Yonoi (Ryûichi Sakamoto), who has a firm belief in discipline, honour and glory. In Yonoi's view, the allied prisoners are all cowards after choosing to surrender in the war instead of committing suicide. When one of the prisoners, interpreter John Lawrence (Tom Conti), tries to explain the Japanese way of thinking, he is considered a traitor.

Directed by Japanese master Nagisa Oshima (In the Realm of the Senses, Empire of Passion, Gohatto) and produced by Jeremy Thomas (13 Assassins), Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence is one of the most compellingly realised culture clash stories ever committed to film. Iconically cast and boasting an astonishing score by Ryuchi Sakamoto, it's also the film that introduced sitre favourite Takeshi Kitano to an international audience.

Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence will be released on UK double-play (containing both DVD and Blu-ray) by Studio Canal on 17th October 2011 at the RRP of £22.99.

Extra features will include:

• The Oshima Gang – making-of featurette;
• An Interview with producer Jeremy Thomas;
• An Interview Ryûichi Sakamoto;
• Theatrical Trailer.

You can read our review of the DVD release here.