History YMMV / MerryChristmasMrLawrence

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: How did music legends Music/DavidBowie and [[Music/YellowMagicOrchestra Ryuichi Sakamoto]] work on the same film yet never worked on music together? In fact, David Sylvian ended up being the singer of the film's theme song.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF9_9MZyQGo The main theme]], which shares the title of the film, was written by Music/RyuichiSakamoto himself. A vocal version, featuring David Sylvian, is known as "Forbidden Colours". Both musicians have released new recordings of both versions of this song over the 30 years since the song was originally released, and it is a perennial feature of Sakamoto's live performances.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF9_9MZyQGo The main theme]], which shares the title of the film, was written by Ryuichi Sakamoto himself. A vocal version, featuring David Sylvian, is known as "Forbidden Colours". Both musicians have released new recordings of both versions of this song over the 30 years since the song was originally released, and it is a perennial feature of Sakamoto's live performances.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: How did music legends Music/DavidBowie and [[Music/YellowMagicOrchestra Ryuichi Sakamoto]] work on the same film yet never worked on music together? In fact, David Sylvian ended up being the singer of the film's theme song.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: How did music legends Music/DavidBowie and [[Music/YellowMagicOrchestra Ryuichi Sakamoto]] work on the same film yet never worked on music together? In fact, David Sylvian ended up being the singer of the film's theme song.

* IronyAsSheIsCast: "I wish I could sing" and "I've had no romantic interludes of any real importance" from the mouth of Music/DavidBowie. Well, the film was made before he met Iman...

* CrowningMomentOfAwesome: Celliers [[spoiler:kissing Yonoi at the assembly]], saving Hicksley's life.
* CrowningMusicOfAwesome: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF9_9MZyQGo The main theme]], which shares the title of the film, was written by Ryuichi Sakamoto himself. A vocal version, featuring David Sylvian, is known as "Forbidden Colours". Both musicians have released new recordings of both versions of this song over the 30 years since the song was originally released, and it is a perennial feature of Sakamoto's live performances.

* HeartwarmingMoments: The "Father Christmas" scene, in which Hara orders for [[spoiler: Celliers and Lawrence to be released from execution.]] It's even sweeter because Hara is incredibly drunk, and is laughing merrily the whole scene through. The others's touched and slightly bewildered reactions fall into this too.

** A meta example comes with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9VdR4H8WuE this]] performance of the main theme, shortly after David Bowie had passed away. Sakamoto had been discussing the good times he had with Bowie on the film's set before playing the song in tribute of him.

* HeartwarmingMoments: The "Father Christmas" scene, in which Hara orders for [[spoiler: Celliers and Lawrence to be released from execution.]] It's even sweeter because Hara is incredibly drunk, and is laughing merrily the whole scene through. The others's amused and slightly bewildered reactions fall into this too.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: How did music legends Music/DavidBowie and [[YellowMagicOrchestra Ryuichi Sakamoto]] worked on the same film yet never worked on music together? In fact, David Sylvian ended up being the singer of the film's theme song.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: How did music legends Music/DavidBowie and [[YellowMagicOrchestra Ryuichi Sakamoto]] work on the same film yet never work on music together? In fact, David Sylvian ended up being the singer of the film's theme song.

** Celliers's little brother, [[spoiler: a talented singer who is often bullied. His spirits were crushed by brutal mockery during his initiation ceremony at school. As a result, he never sings again. The worst part is that his older brother, whom he looked up to, didn't do a thing to help him even though he had the power to spare him the ritual.]]

* IAmNotShazam: People who are not familiar with the film tend to assume that Bowie's character is named Mr. Lawrence.

* CrowningMomentOfAwesome: Celliers [[spoiler:kissing Yonoi at the assembly]].

** Celliers's little brother, [[spoiler: a talented singer who's spirits were crushed by brutal mockery during his initiation ceremony at school. As a result, he never sings again. The worst part is that his older brother, whom he looked up to, didn't do a thing to help him even though he had the power to spare him the ritual.]]

* CrowningMusicOfAwesome: The theme song, which shares the title of the film, was written by Ryuichi Sakamoto himself. A vocal version, featuring David Sylvian, is known as "Forbidden Colours". Both musicians have released new recordings of both versions of this song over the 30 years since the song was originally released, and is a perennial feature of Sakamoto's live performances.

* CrowningMusicOfAwesome: The theme song, which shares the title of the film, was written by Sakamoto himself. A vocal version, featuring David Sylvian, is known as "Forbidden Colours". Both musicians have released new recordings of both versions of this song over the 30 years since the song was originally released, and is a perennial feature of Sakamoto's live performances.

** Celliers's little brother, [[spoiler: who's spirits were crushed by brutal mockery during his initiation ceremony at school. As a result, he never sings again, something which was his real talent. The worst part is that his older brother, whom he looked up to, didn't do a thing to help him even though he had the power to stop the ceremony.]]

** Poor Karel de Jong.

* TearJerker: The epilogue, taking place four years after the events of the film. [[spoiler: Hara has been imprisoned for war crimes. The night before his execution, Lawrence, now free again, comes to visit him.]] The whole scene is both sweet and very sad. Especially in [[spoiler: Lawrence's]] case. He may have survived as one of the winners, but that also means that he loses someone he has become quite close with. The heartbroken look on his face after he says his final goodbye's, clearly on the verge of tears, really does it.

---> '''[[spoiler: Lawrence]]:'''There are times in which victory is very hard to take.

* IronyAsSheIsCast: "I wish I could sing" and "I've had no romantic interludes of any real importance" from the mouth of DavidBowie. Well, the film was made before he met Iman...

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: How did music legends DavidBowie and [[YellowMagicOrchestra Ryuichi Sakamoto]] work on the same film yet never work on music together? In fact, David Sylvian ended up being the singer of the film's theme song.

* TheWoobie: Lawrence.

* CrowningMusicOfAwesome: The theme song, written by Sakamoto himself.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: How did music legends DavidBowie and [[YellowMagicOrchestra Ryuichi Sakamoto]] work on the same film yet never work on music together?

* IAmNotShazam: people who are not familiar with the film tend to assume that Bowie's character is named Mr. Lawrence.

* FoeYay: Buckets and buckets of it. Enough, in fact, that it drives the entire plot.

* FetishFuel: The whole dynamic between Celliers and Yonoi, especially with regards to power - Yonoi ''officially'' has complete power over Celliers. Not that anything comes of it, but as far as this trope is concerned? It's more than enough.