Richard Mills

Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence -- MERRY CHRISTMAS MR. LAWRENCE is a multilayered, brutal, at times erotic tale of culture clash that was one of Oshima's greatest successes.

A shy widower moves to a small seaside community and joins the local amateur theatre group. Adapted for the screen by Alan Ackbourne from his prize-winning stageplay.

Marlon Brando stars as Quint, a gardener who powerfully impacts the lives of young orphans Miles and Flora, who are left in the care of their governess and housekeeper. Obsessed with the charismatic Quint, the children are mesmerized by his warped views of love and life and soon pattern their own lives after his crude, secret courtship with their governess. When the housekeeper finds out about the lovers' relationship, she decides to fire them, leaving the bereft children to take matters into their own chilling hands.

An elderly religious fanatic, whose son was killed in an auto wreck several years ago, kidnaps her dead son's former finacee and keeps her locked up in the basement in order to cleanse the girl's soul, making it fit to be reunited with her son in heaven.