Letters from Iwo Jima

The counterpart to Eastwood’s American-based Flags of our Fathers, Letters depicts the infamous 1945 battle from the ranks of the doomed Japanese as they defend their tiny island to the death.

For a century cinema has been warping world history, and war has fared worst. Having seen Steven Spielberg banish the British from Normandy and Michael Bay destroy interest in Pearl Harbour, Clint Eastwood has attempted to redress the perspective with Letters from Iwo Jima.

Two tales share the focus: that of conscript Saigo and General Kuribayashi (Watanabe). Saigo (Ninomiya) is far removed from the kamikaze convention, desperate to survive and return home. Kazunari Ninomiya is excellent, his overwhelmed expressions as potent as the scenes of grenade suicide.

But it is Watanabe’s General who stands out, giving a measured portrayal of a man whose sense and sympathy struggle against conviction and duty.

Though the bulk of the fighting is tackled by Flags, Letters has more to show than detached limbs and guts. Subtitles and minor plot confusion do nothing to impede a powerful message that forces you to consider the balance of Hollywood history. Utterly essential.

Andy Rennison