That's the movie I watched today. It's basically about the taking of Iwo Jima, except it's from the Japanese point of view. Clint Eastwood directed it, so I guess it was guaranteed to be good, but still. It was groundshaking, mindblowing, and absolutely heart-shattering. One of my new favorites? I think so.
The story centers around Saigo, a young Japanese baker who leaves his wife and unborn child to go to war. Fueled by his desire to live for his family, he endures dysentery, poor living conditions, endless abuse from his incredibly bitchy captain, and the constant threat of death, whether at the hands of the Marines or those of his fellow soldiers.
The theme of dying for one's country and dying with honor is strong throughout the entire movie, and sometimes stretches to the point of fanaticism. The idea of a "last stand" is prominent in literature and in movies, but this particular movie is the first I've seen that portrays a soldier's outlook on death realistically (or at least seems to do so). While the Spartan heroism and recklessness in the face of death depicted in Zack Snyder's 300 is admirable, and, quite frankly, extremely badass, one cannot empathize or identify with them- only idolize them. At the end of the day, I feel like soldiers are just as afraid of death as civilians. After all, we're all only human. They just battle it, day after day, because they willingly serve a higher purpose and a greater good. The men in this movie overwhelmed me with steely nerve, courage and cowardice in turn. Their commanders would lead them into battle and tell them beforehand not to expect to come back alive. They face death with their men- in fact, one of the generals always tells his men, "I will always be in front of you." And nevertheless, they'd still go out and fight. And at the same time, they would use death as an escape.
One of the most heart-wrenching scenes of the movie is when Mount Suribachi is lost. The commander of the operation, unable to face the shame of having failed in his duty to his country, explicitly defies orders and sends a message to his men, ordering them to commit suicide. In this scene, I'm not sure which is more terrifying- the obvious fear on the soldiers' faces as they set off their grenades, or the readiness with which they give up. This is also paradoxical in the sense that these men believe, with all their hearts, that the most courageous way to die is in a cave, by their own hand, in vain. However, when Saigo and another soldier escape, believing that they should be productive and continue to fight if they're going to die anyway, they are accused of desertion and cowardice and are almost executed.
Another idea that Eastwood highlights in the movie is how little the Americans and the Japanese knew about each other. Eastwood portrays the best and the worst of both sides very well. While four Japanese soldiers throw humanity to the winds and stab a cornered and injured Marine to death with their bayonets in revenge for killing one of their own, one of the commanders shows compassion for another injured Marine, Sam, and nurses him, finding common ground and befriending him in the process. I thought it was interesting that American soldiers were portrayed in the opposite order. Although the Americans are portrayed as humane at first, one of the Japanese soldiers has the rug pulled out from under his feet when he goes to the Marines and surrenders. He is unpleasantly surprised when one of the soldiers who was ordered to keep an eye on him pulls out a gun and shoots him instead, not wanting to be burdened by POWs.
One of my favorite quotes in the movie was from a letter that Sam's mother writes to him, in which she tells him, "Remember what I told you. Always do what is right because it is right." It is this quote that bridges the gap between the Americans and the Japanese, because one of the Japanese soldiers admits that his mother told him the exact same thing before he left home. And it's a good thing to remember. Although it's sometimes hard to resist, doing something for applause or glory really doesn't afford the same satisfaction as doing something simply because it's the right thing to do. It takes self-control and discipline, but it's a lofty goal to aspire to, and extremely satisfying when it's achieved.
I was trying realllllllllly hard to avoid putting spoilers in here, so I think I'll stop now. Overall, Letters From Iwo Jima was an expressive, ingenious masterpiece which testifies eloquently to the horrors of war and the power of love. But most importantly, Letters To Iwo Jima is a tribute to the indomitable human spirit, portrayed in the Japanese AND American characters. It portrays the ruthlessness and cruelty that humans are capable of in the face of adversity or in the throes of revenge. But more importantly, it showcases the potential for courage, strength and resilience present in EVERY human spirit.
All that matters is which of the above-mentioned qualities you decide to harness.
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