In the 2006 film, “Letters from Iwo Jima,” the impact of World War II’s Battle of Iwo Jima is portrayed from the Japanese perspective. The film is a companion to the 2006 film, “Flags of Our Fathers,” which is an American perspective version of the battle also directed by Clint Eastwood. The film is unlike most American war movies that show just the American perspective.
The film gives a glimpse into the military skills and discipline of the Japanese at the key island of Iwo Jima to hold off American troops as long as possible during the bloody 36-day battle.
Here are the top scenes from this unique film.
The scene shows how limited resources were for the Japanese. Japanese troops were warned to fire deliberately to avoid wasting bullets. When the surviving troops made it back to safety, there was no water left to give them.
The scene shows the Japanese becoming overwhelmed with airstrikes dropping all around. One Japanese soldier is helpless but to remain by the side of his dying horse.
In this scene, a Marine throws a flamethrower through a hole in the tunnel, causing a Japanese soldier to burn in flames. In return, the Japanese find this Marine and question him while beating him.
This scene is a powerful look into the true effects that war can have on an individual, especially in Japanese culture. In Japan, “honor suicides” were carried out to avoid shame coming from a defeat in battle. The Japanese troops in the scene remind themselves of their honorable battles before declaring it time to die with honor.
This part plays one of the largest roles in the movie, due to the symbolism being shown to reflect the title of the film. Not only are there letters being shown in the ending scene, but also a sunset to represent the fall of the Japanese empire after the fall of Iwo Jima.
