Monday 31 August 2009

Something to Tickle your taste buds

Enjoy!

http://twitter.com/razakbaginda

Saturday 22 August 2009

Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence

I recently revisited an old classic (and an old personal favourite - it's listed as a favourite film on Facebook and as we all know, Facebook never lies) starring David Bowie, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Tom Conti, Takeshi and Jack Thompson in the roles of Japanese prison guards and British POWs, set in a Javanese camp in 1942. Under the poignantly touching title Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence, the film sheds light on the relationships, tension and dare we even say, love developped during captivity between captor and captive.

Bowie plays as Jack Celliers, a Major in the British Army while Sakamoto (who incidentally wrote the score and the brilliant tune of the same name) is Captain Yonoi, the head of the camp who develops an obsession with Celliers. Conti is the namesake of the film: Colonel John Lawrence who in the film, acts as liaison officer because of his proficiency in the language and culture of the Japanese. Takeshi is Sergeant Hara who in his drunken moments proves to be the gentlest human being while with sobriety, he is the strict guard of the camp.

An amazing film that takes us into the minds of soldiers who under their caps, and their bland uniforms, are truly only just simply human.