Letters from Iwo Jima
Overall the movie just covers the battle of Iwo Jima and the happenings up to it. It starts in 2005 where archaeologists are surveying the tunnels under Iwo Jima where they find two letters. From there it takes us back to 1944 on Iwo Jima with Private First Class Saigo is beaten by his commanding officer, Captian Tanida, after pleading to give the island up to the Americans. General Tadamichi Kuribayshi, after just arriving to take control of the garrisons, learns that the Japanese Combined Fleet has been destroyed and orders to take tunnel defenses under the island.
Raids on Iwo Jima by the Americans beign in February 1945 with air raids starting first. Only days later U.S Forces storm the beaches by land and suffer heavy casualties, but beach defenses are quick to come. Once the beach is taken the fighting is taken to the tunnels. While running a message to Colonel Adachi, Saigo eavesdrops on Adachi pleading Kuribayashi for permission to commit suicide, but Kuribayashi refuses and orders them to move to the north caves. Ignoring the General Kuribayashi's orders, Adachi orders his officers and men to kill themselves. Captian Tanida and the other soldiers commit suicide. While others retreat to the north caves. Saigo and the rest of Okubo's patrol pass through a firefight while retreating; Okubo and several others are killed. The survivors gather with General Kuribayashi, who is impressed that Saigo has come all the way from Mount Suribachi. Kuribayashi is amazed to learn that he has twice saved the private's life. After gathering the rest of his men, the General orders Saigo to stay behind and burn all documents and letters during the final attack rather than join the fighting, thus saving his life a third time. Saigo cannot bring himself to burn his comrades' letters to their families and buries them instead. By the next morning, the Japanese forces have been overrun, and the Americans have taken the rest of the island. The film ends with the Japanese archaeologists finding the letters that Saigo buried.
Review: I give this movie a 5 out of 5 for its wonderful content and way of showing the struggle of battle, life, and sacrifices during the war for the Japanese soldiers.
Comments
Good summary but brief on your review.