All good war movies should be anti-war

Palma 2022-04-19 09:01:46

"You are an excellent soldier" "No, I'm just a baker."

This is a story about World War II. For the Chinese, the concept of World War II is actually a bit macro. We often call it the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

The entire film was shot by Americans from the perspective of Japanese soldiers. This is rare, because the Battle of Iwo Jima was a war between Japan and the United States.

Iwo Jima is a very delicate place. Once this place is captured, Japan will basically be in a very dangerous situation. So it can be said that how strong the faith of the Japanese is, how tragic this war will be.

But the Japanese soldier is not a machine, not even a real soldier. Most of them were arrested like strong men, and they didn't know what this war was for. They were just ordinary people.

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Extended Reading

Letters from Iwo Jima quotes

  • General Tadamichi Kuribayashi: [Tadamichi turns up in time to stop Ito from beheading Saigo and Shimizu] I don't want you to kill my soldiers needlessly. Put down your sword. Put it down!

    [Ito sheathes his katana and salutes]

    General Tadamichi Kuribayashi: What's going on here?

    Lieutenant Ito: These men ran from Suribachi.

    General Tadamichi Kuribayashi: Lt. Ito, I gave the order that all survivors retreat to the north caves.

    Lieutenant Ito: [embarrassed] I am very sorry, General. It's just... Suribachi... has fallen.

    [Tadamichi rushes to a cave opening and sees Mount Suribachi from a distance, with a U.S flag raised on the summit]

  • [door opens]

    Lead Woman: Congratulations! Your husband is going to war.

    Saigo: Thank you very much. I'm happy to serve the country.

    Lead Woman: [Lead Woman stares piercingly at Saigo and steps forward] Prayers for your eternal success at arms.

    Hanako: [desperately] I beg of you! We have only each other.

    Lead Woman: [Lead Woman shouts - scolding Hanako angrily] Mrs. Saigo! *This* is not the time.

    [firmly]

    Lead Woman: We have all sent our husbands and sons to war. We all have to do our part.

    [looking down at Hanako's baby bump, and then... sympathetically]

    Lead Woman: At least you'll have a little one to carry on your name.

    [Lead Woman bows with authority and walks away]