Hope there is no more war

Garth 2021-11-26 08:01:44

After "The Flag of the Fathers" is the "Book of Iwo Jima", two perspectives of the same war. If one is the American perspective and the other is the Japanese perspective, I prefer "The Flag of the Fathers". There is no shortage of American movies. I am full of respect for the description and analysis of human nature, so my thoughts on the glory and pride of my past make me full of respect, but as a Japanese perspective to interpret the battle of sulfur, "Iwo Jima Family Letter", in the eyes of the Chinese neighboring Japan , But there are more touching places.

Films promoting the American soldier have seen the big picture from childhood, such as "Saving Private Ryan", "Brothers", "Black Hawk Project", "Brave to Death Island" until the just-end hit "Pacific War", whether documentary or fictional, American soldiers' The image has long been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people of the world. The image of Chinese soldiers is praised by countless movies with the main theme. It seems that I have seen movies depicting Chinese soldiers from small to large. They were all made by Chinese people. "It reminds me still fresh that on the issue of World War II, the governments of both China and Japan avoided varying degrees. We are avoiding the truth of the past, and Japan is avoiding the mistakes of the past.

It’s also rare to see Japanese World War II movies. The only one I’ve seen is "The Tomb of Fireflies". It can be considered that Japan is reflecting on this war through the description of the Japanese island. We have provided a window to interpret this war. Although it was filmed by an American director, the participation of a large number of powerful Japanese movie stars also reflects Japan's identity to a certain extent.

Compared with the banner in "Flags of Fathers", which symbolizes the heroic deeds of the US military, "Letters from Iwo Jima" puts its focus on the true letters. Americans who cherish their lives long for the glory of the collective and the country. Bushido Japanese people with deep-rooted spirits also have the most peaceful and true feelings.

The enclosed letter is what touched me the most in the whole film. Japanese soldiers are also humans. They are not bloodthirsty demons. They are not machines that only know how to kill. Tadashi Kuribayashi has a daughter who likes to paint, and Xixiang has someone waiting for him in his hometown. My love, Takenaka has an equestrian skill that makes him proud, and Shimizu is just a boy who can't bear to kill even a dog.

Leaving the battlefield and putting aside their loyalty to the emperor, they are ordinary people who love life. This is not a defense for what the Japanese did in the war, but the small individuals in the war actually yearn for peace. When Su Lin Zhongdao laughed after shouting Long Live the Emperor, it is unclear whether he laughed at himself sadly or laughed at the fanatical meaninglessness, but when watching the movie, we all feel helpless for this desperate scene. Bar.

As long as they step onto the battlefield, anyone can become a devil. The Japanese soldier who brutally killed the Americans in "Letter from Iwo Jima" may be the boy who writes his family letter under the faint lights at night, and the American soldier who killed Japanese prisoners of war may be. Are the brothers born to death in "The Banner of the Fathers" contradictory? No contradiction, even so with human nature. Who is to blame? If it weren't for a hateful war, who should die.

History cannot go back and start again. The smoke of Iwo Jima has dissipated for more than half a century. Although the stubborn resistance of the Japanese garrison severely set back the U.S. military, they were unable to defend the mainland as they expected. Two atomic bombs were thrown down, and all resistance was met. It became meaningless.

We often indignantly accuse Japanese leaders of visiting the Yasukuni Shrine, but in fact, our government’s request is only to remove the tablets of a few Class A war criminals. Most of the tablets in the Yasukuni Shrine are small people like Saigo. Those Japanese soldiers who were unable to control their destiny in the meat grinder of World War II, compared to the Japanese visiting the Yasukuni Shrine, where can we go to pay tribute to the soldiers and soldiers who died for the country in World War II. Thinking of this, I can’t help but feel a little bit Sadly, if we ourselves can better face the reality of World War II, we will be more confident to accuse Japan of avoiding it.

In Japan now, the enthusiasm for Bushido spirit and militarism has dissipated a lot. Although I have never known Japanese or set foot on that land, I can still feel the breath of peace in those film and television works. The works of the Gundam series have their pros and cons, there are loud shouts and some that make us think through individuals, but they are all anti-war themes. Compared with the previous Bushido spirit, which regarded human life as a grass, let us see Now that the Japanese treat life with respect. People who have fallen into fanaticism should reflect deeply. Japan is, and so are we who were lost in the 1960s and 1970s.

Japan was full of militarism in the past. It is indeed a crazy move to look forward to the Great East Asia under the unification of the imperial kingdom. How can we often dream back to the Tang Dynasty and yearn for the feeling that the kingdom of heaven will let all nations become ministers, and fanatical patriotism will make one The nation is lost. Movies like "Iwo Jima Family Letters" should be taken to the so-called patriotic youth who yearn for the Tokyo Massacre, and then weigh the weight of life carefully. No life should be treated with contempt. .

Su Lin Zhongdao is just as sentimental and righteous in the movie, but he was also a blood-stained servant during the war of aggression against China. When facing Japan, the Chinese people's mood is always very complicated, but the hatred should not be continued. Especially after so many years have passed, revenge is meaningless.

Every time I watch this kind of movie, I hope that the war described in the movie will be the last war of mankind, but where there are people, there are battles, and mankind still exists, so war will not die out, but more people understand and feel it. To understand the meaning of life and the value of peace is certainly a good thing for mankind.

Quite cliché, but I really hope that the world will be peaceful and there will be no more wars.

The dormitory of Zhengzhou University in the afternoon of June 18, 2010





View more about Letters from Iwo Jima reviews

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]