Jess and I spent last Saturday evening - the 27th of January - in Bridgeville to view the film Letters from Iwo Jima. Though directed by an American director, Clint Eastwood, the dialogue is entirely in Japanese with English subtitles. It is possible that that is the reason the movie is showing in only two theatres in Pittsburgh. Despite rave reviews from across the nation, it is doubtful that many would have the patience to read the subtitles and attempt to view the Battle of Iwo Jima from the perspective of the Japanese unless they have some special interest in World War II or the battle itself.

The movie, a companion to the recent movie Flags of Our Fathers which showed the American perspective of the Battle of Iwo Jima, focuses on several common Japanese soldiers and their trials and tribulations from being selected to join the army to avoiding certain death on the island of Iwo Jima. The centerpiece of the story is General Tadamichi Kuribayashi who was personally selected by the Prime Minister of Japan to lead the defense of the island. Having spent a great deal of time in America prior to the war, he gained a respect for the American people and opposed the war itself. He is, however, aware that Iwo Jima will eventually fall to the Americans and attempts to be a stern yet sympathetic commander to soldiers whom he knows are expected to die for the honor of their Emperor. He orders his men to fight to the death but does not encourage seppuku, which is suicide by a soldier to prevent capture by the enemy. The movie depicts at least one instance of seppuku in which soldiers isolated on Mount Suribachi detonate grenades in their torsos similar to the tradition of the samurai who would stab themselves in the stomach to protect their honor. The film minimizes the amount of gore and is light in comparison to Saving Private Ryan.

The true value of the movie comes from the presentation of the Japanese perspective itself. Despite being burdened with the expectation of dying with honor for their country, many of the soldiers clearly want to survive and see their loved ones again. But the principles of their culture will not allow them to do so without sacrificing respect at home. The flashbacks to the soldiers’ lives prior to the war are less distracting and less annoying than in Flags of Our Fathers and provide the realization to the viewer that war is truly hell and that no one really wants to participate. In the end, the battle is fought by the Japanese for honor but is fruitless. America would defeat Japan in less than six months and begin a half-century of alliance and healing.

Five stars for presenting a touching, realistic view of the battle from a new cultural perspective. Eastwood proves again he is an excellent director as he is a legendary actor.