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December 08, 2006
"Letters from Iwo Jima"
This looks quite good. Who would have thought Clint "Dirty Harry" Eastwood could make films like this? I know Eastwood will be criticized for 'sympathizing with America's enemies' and the like, but it looks as though this movie will provide an interesting perspective not on the imperial ambitions of the country's political leaders, but on the lives of those who fought in that army.
"There's nothing sacred about this island," says one heretical conscript. "The Americans can have it." The official line was that the invaders were weak-willed and undisciplined, but two of the top Japanese officers depicted here had spent time in the U.S. before the war, liked the country and had friends there. To echo the primary theme of "Flags," nothing is as clear-cut as it seems; the situation is never as black-and-white as any side's propaganda would have it.Given the sorry state of historical textbooks these days, any attempt to deal honestly with the people involved in major historical events is welcome. Thanks to Joe for an email that reminded me of this movie. Of course, what I really want to know is what is it in the Japanese psyche that causes them to create really weird televison programs?
Posted by slublog at December 8, 2006 12:00 AM
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Comments
While I am sympathetic to Allied Pacific War veterans who have a difficult time handling the emotions the war caused for them, from my detached perspective it is hard to see how most of the Japanese on Iwo Jima could be seen as anything more than victims themselves. I get the feeling the movier is going to bring this out.
Posted by: mainiacjoe at December 8, 2006 10:52 AM