Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)

Letters from Iwo Jima (2006) is a Japanese-language American war film directed and co-produced by Clint Eastwood. It tells the story of the Battle of Iwo Jima from the perspective of the Japanese soldiers and serves as a complement to Eastwood’s Flags of Our Fathers, which portrays the same battle from the American viewpoint. Both films were shot back to back. In 2005, Japanese archaeologists discover something in the dirt while exploring tunnels on Iwo Jima. The year is 1944. Private First Class Saigo, a conscripted baker who longs for his wife and newborn daughter, is part of a platoon digging beach trenches when Lieutenant General Tadamichi Kuribayashi takes command of the garrison. Kuribayashi saves Saigo from Captain Tanida’s punishment for being ‘unpatriotic’ and orders them to create underground defenses throughout the island. However, he faces opposition from other officers, including Lieutenant Colonel Baron Takeichi Nishi, an Olympic gold medalist show jumper. They disagree with Kuribayashi’s strategy of defense in depth, favoring a defensive line on the beach instead.

The effects of poor nutrition and unsanitary conditions are evident as many succumb to dysentery. Newly assigned troops, including Superior Private Shimizu, raise suspicion from Saigo as he believes they may be spies sent by the Kempeitai to monitor disloyalty among the soldiers. As American aircraft and warships begin to bombard the island, U.S. Marines eventually make a successful landing. Despite sustaining heavy casualties, they manage to break through the beach defenses and launch an attack on Mount Suribachi. During this chaos, Captain Tanida’s message is delivered by Saigo to Colonel Adachi. However, while listening to the radio, Saigo overhears Kuribayashi’s order for retreat; but instead of accepting defeat, Adachi orders his unit to commit honorable suicide. Despite this command, both Saigo and Shimizu choose to rebel and continue fighting on.