Letters From Iwo Jima, DVD, Widescreen, Subtitled, Dubbed, Dolby, War-World War II, 28. 'Letters From Iwo Jima reveals the true story of the Battle of Iwo Jima, the subject of two films directed by Clint Eastwood. Flags of Our Fathers tells the story of US Marines who raised the flag about the island: the iconic image of the war with Japan. Letters From Iwo Jima. 1 day ago Cache Valley this month has lost two of its last surviving veterans of World War II — Clarkson native Rex Thompson and Preston native Lloyd Lewis, both veterans of the horrific battle of Iwo Jima. Thompson died Jan. 8 in South Jordan, a week after his 101st birthday. His obituary appeared in today.
“They are on their way. For our homeland. Until the very last man. Our duty is to stop the enemy right here. Do not expect to return home alive.”
As the counterpart to Flags of Our Fathers, Letters from Iwo Jima gives viewers a glimpse into the Japanese point of view during the battle of Iwo Jima.
In contrast to the beach scenes in Flags of Our Fathers, the Japanese point of view shows how the Japanese fought from their defensive tunnels, as well as how effective the use of flame throwers was against them. The clip above shows how the defensive position of the Japanese made them easy targets for the Americans when they got close enough.
Here we can see how the Japanese forces were strongest in their established defenses, thus making them vulnerable when outside. As the Japanese run back to their cave, the marines are able to shoot down a number of Japanese soldiers.
The dedication of the Japanese forces was what made the pacific war a bloody affair. The Japanese were willing to fight to the death and did so. Rather than become captives of the Americans, a number of Japanese killed themselves in their caves.
This movie is unique because it is told from the opponent’s point of view while being based on accounts of the US forces. The low number of Japanese survivors meant that the American accounts were relied on to tell both sides of the battle.[1.] In addition to his, the battle at Iwo Jima is not well known in Japan today. This movie recovers a forgotten past.[2.] The fact that an American director made this movie makes the portrayal of the abttle all the more important. Both movies show the struggles that this battle put the soldiers through, and by showing the Japanese point of view, there now exists a precise visual representation of the opponent in a humanistic way. Letters from Iwo Jima is important to Japan by remembering the sacrifice of their people and is important to American history by humanizing the Japanese in the battle of Iwo Jima.
[1.] Leo Braudy, “Review of Flags of Our Fathers by Clint Eastwood, Steven Speilberg and Robert Lorenz,” Film Quarterly, (Summer 2007), 18.
Letters From Iwo Jima
[2.] Justin Hart, “Review of Flags of Our Fathers by Clint Eastwood, Steven Speilberg and Robert Lorenz and Letters from Iwo Jima by Clint Eastwood and Robert Lorenz,” Journal of American History, 94, no. 3, (December 2007), 1034.