Vojna drama, v kateri je eno izmed glavnih vlog odigral legendarni David Bowie. Java, leta 1942. Spremljamo dogajanje v japonskem vojnem taborišču med drugo svetovno vojno, kjer se nad zaporniki znaša sadistični poveljnik Hara. Britanski ujetnik John Lawrence govori japonsko in predstavlja vez med jetniki in japonskimi stražarji. Ko v taborišče prispe novozelandski vojak Jack Celliers, se situacija korenito spremeni.
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, honor and glory. In his view, the allied prisoners are cowards when they chose to surrender instead of committing suicide. One of the prisoners, interpreter John Lawrence, tries to explain the Japanese way of thinking, but is considered a traitor.