In 1942 British soldier Jack Celliers comes to a japanese prison camp. The camp is run by Yonoi, who has a firm belief in discipline, honour and glory.

In his view, the allied prisoners are cowards when they chose to surrender instead of commiting suicide. One of the prisoners, interpreter John Lawrence, tries to explain the japanese way of thinking, but is considered a traitor.

Non-spoken but evidently there is the relationship between Major Jack 'Strafer' Celliers and captain Yonoi. The tension between them grows bigger and bigger and they learn to appreciate the other.

A very good movie with a lot of undercurrent subplots.

The music is excellent, cast great, the script is brilliant. So what else do you want?

Caption Yonoi: To be or not to be, that is the question.

Colonel Lawrence: God, I wish they'd stop hitting me.

Colonel John Lawrence: There are times when victory is very hard to take.

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