Title: 硫黄島からの手紙 Iōjima Kara no Tegami (Iwo Jima Kara no Tegami)
English Title: Letters from Iwo Jima
Country:
- Japan
- United States of America
Year: 2006
Cast:
- 渡辺謙 Watanabe Ken
- 二宮和也 Ninomiya Kazunari
- 加瀬亮 Kase Ryo
- 伊原剛志 Ihara Tsuyoshi
- 中村獅童 Nakamura Shidō
- 坂東工 Bando Takumi
- 裕木奈江 Nae Yūki
SYNOPSIS
The story of the battle of Iwo Jima between the United States and Imperial Japan during World War II, as told from the perspective of the Japanese who fought it.
REVIEW
Iwo Jima Kara no Tegami is an interesting film about the soldiers in Iwo Jima, and how they had valiantly defended the island from American soldiers during the World War II.
I like how some scenes are depicted while the characters are reading their letters to their loved ones in voiceover, such as how Saigo tells his wife Hanako that all they ever do is dig all day and that he is worried that he is digging his own grave. We don't view them as just soldiers through those scenes, we get to see them as sons, husbands, and fathers.
Saigo ?: Hanako. We soldiers dig. We dig all day. This is the hole that we will fight and die in. Hanako, am I digging my own grave?
Saigo ?: We can die here... or we can continue fighting. Which would better serve the Emperor? Which one?
Nishi Takeichi: Men, do your best. Do what is right, because it is right.
Kuribayashi Tadamichi: It's strange. I promised to fight until death for my family, but the thought of my family makes it difficult to keep that promise.
It is about the Battle of Iwo Jima, which happened from 15 February 1945 to 26 March 1945. Iwo Jima Kara no Tegami, known internationally as Letters from Iwo Jima, is told from the perspective of the Japanese soldiers, and its related movie Flags of Our Fathers is told from the point of view of American soldiers.
I haven't watched Flags of Our Fathers so I don't know if I'm missing a lot. Although it is in my list of movies to watch, I don't really know when I'll get around to doing so because I don't like war films.
I think Iwo Jima Kara no Tegami is good, but I really just watched it because of actor Ninomiya Kazunari. I probably wouldn't watch it if he's not part of the cast no matter how great it is.
Related:
Flags of Our Fathers
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硫黄島からの手紙 Iōjima Kara no Tegami (Iwo Jima Kara no Tegami)
Letters from Iwo Jima
