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Your Gateway to Music and More from a Christian Perspective Slow down as you approach the gate, and have your change ready.... |
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Since 1996 |
Your Gateway to Music and More from a Christian Perspective Slow down as you approach the gate, and have your change ready.... |
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Letters From Iwo Jima Stars: Ken Watanabe, Kazunari Ninomiya, Tsuyoshi Ihara, Ryo Kase and Shidou Nakamura Director: Clint Eastwood Scriptwriter: Iris Yamashita based on "Picture Letters From Commander In Chief" Music: Kyle Eastwood and Michael Stevens Cinematography: Tom Stern Warner Brothers Rated: R Running Length: 140 minutes Japanese Language with subtitles 2006 is certainly Clint Eastwood's year. As though his success with Million Dollar Baby wasn't enough for one lifetime, Eastwood has two films in contention with each other for Oscar nominations. Flags of Our Fathers which details what happened during WWII when the American flag was raised in victory over Iwo Jima, and "Letters From Iwo Jima" which tells the story of this famous battle---from the Japanese side. Of the two films, I believe this one, Letters is the complete film with intense characterizations and a sense of being there. Perhaps, it is because we are now on unfamiliar ground and must look at our surroundings with eyes wide open. The story begins in present day when a group of researchers on Iwo Jima discovers a mail bag buried in the floor of a cave. Here is a treasure trove of letters and books from Japanese soldiers. Who buried this material? Why? As the story unfolds in flashbacks, we see what is happening from the Japanese viewpoint on Iwo Jima. The commander would rather have gone to anywhere but this island, however, the emperor ordered him there and he will defend Iwo Jima, an important base, to the death. We meet men under his command. There are those who secretly question the war's end and perhaps even wonder if surrender would be better. Then, there are men who are warriors to the end and death is the final solution. All men are shown to be lonely for home and their families. They have pictures of loved ones and this correspondence is part of the subtitles. The class system is prevalent here and a high ranking officer, who is also a Baron and rode in the Olympics, is given special treatment, as with his horse. Beating lazy soldiers is allowed. At first, digging trenches and trying to figure out a battle plan consumes time, but then the officers realize the Americans are really coming in FULL force and the Japanese soldiers are outnumbered. What the Japanese excel is in digging tunnels and fighting beneath the Americans. In this film, you find out what happens to American soldiers who suddenly disappear while on guard duty in Flags of Our Fathers. A nice connecting touch. Americans are slaughtered when they invade Iwo Jima, but they still keep coming. What will the Japanese do? Suicide? Surrender? In the meantime, what gives them comfort is writing to loved ones at home. There is a stellar cast in Letters headed by Ken Watanabe. By the end of the film, the audience will feel they know these soldiers, from the lowest in rank with reduced rations to the Olympic champion who has his horse brought to Iwo Jima. This rock in the Pacific is something to be attained by the American forces and retained by the Japanese army. Even though you know the outcome, this side of the battle will be new. The Japanese did not have adequate rations, water or other supplies. They were expected to defend to the death and doesn't that sound familiar in today's warfare in the Middle East? The upper echelon of an army or guerilla force gives the command to fight to the death, but one wonders if they would do the same? Neither side plays gallantly, either, there are moments of compassion for the enemy and then moments of savagery. What one commander says is true, though, "Learn to know your enemy." Clint Eastwood's direction smoothly goes from one story to another. We have the lowly Japanese soldiers bickering over guard duty while the command is enjoying a gourmet meal. At the end of the fight, everyone is on the same level--no water, food or ammunition. All for a rock in water. Letters From Iwo Jima has Academy Award nominations written all over it, from Best Director to Best Actor to Best Cinematography to Best Adapted Script to possibly Best Original Music Score. Go for it, Clint. Copyright 2006 Marie Asner Submitted 12/19/06 
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