Kōrero: Feature film

Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence, a drama set in a Second World War prison camp, had a Japanese director, starred international names such as David Bowie and Tom Conti, and was shot in Rarotonga as well as Auckland. However, the production was largely financed from New Zealand, many New Zealanders played minor roles, and the crew included Lee Tamahori as first assistant director. Tamahori later made an international name for himself as a director of action movies.