Flags Of Our Fathers/Letters From Iwo Jima

Clint Eastwood is the man. I'm sure this will go

down in history as one of the greatest directorial achievements of all-time. What a grandiose idea, telling one story from two opposing points of view, in two separate films. Though these films were released individually, I truly believe they should be spoken of together, as a whole. The first, Flags Of Our Father, is the story of the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima, the famous picture of the event, and the reaction "back home." Letters From Iwo Jima focuses on the Japanese troops stationed on Iwo Jima, their plan of defense, and their eventual destruction. Each film is very good when standing on its own, but when paired with its couterpart, the films take on a whole new depth. The experience is quite breathtaking (if it is at all possible, the films should be seen in close proximity, even back to back).
If I had to pick one as a favorite (though they really should not be separated) I would have to choose Flags. Flags does not merely cover the same territory that has been covered over and over by filmmakers over the last few years (Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers, etc.). It delves into a whole different realm, the perception of war on the homefront. Why are people so concerned with who was in the picture of the raising of the flag? Are they any more heroic than the others who fought, who died? Why is this little picture so important to the war effort? Is perception reality? (You would normally see this theme in a sci-fi film, not a war epic). There was one shot that really stood out to me. The three survivors from the six soldiers in the picture are at a dinner in their honor. They are served cheesecake in the shape of the raising of the flag. The waiter asks if they want chocolate or strawberry, one chooses strawberry. As the red pours down the faces of the little cheesecake soldiers Doc Bradley (Ryan Phillippe) stares, as do we. How can we let people distort something so profound, important and sacrificial into something so ridiculous. Do we do that to the Cross, to Jesus, to the Resurrection? Do we take something so profound, important, and sacrificial and turn it into a t-shirt or a nifty little bracelet? How could we do that, or let others do that? I'm thinking of a line in a Derek Webb tune "turning God's word to cheap cliches." But back to the topic at hand. This film is more intimate and personal than your average war epic, and that makes for fascinating viewing. Not only is it an intimate portrait of the men involved in the photograph, but it also investigates our nation as a whole in a very penetrating way.
I had the privilege to see Letters From Iwo Jima with two friends who lived in Japan for twenty years, one being Japanese herself. This was fantastic because I was interrupted every so often with a whisper of explaination, or a laugh at a joke I didn't get. Letters, much like Flags, was an intimate investigation. The men stationed on Iwo Jima, an island considered part of the sacred homeland of Japan, are ready to fight and die for the honor of their country. The way they go about war is so "foreign" to what we normally see in American films. They have a sense of honor and duty to their nation and their ruler that goes deeper than what we are used to (I think the American sense of duty seems to focus on loyalty to one another, the guy next to you in the trenches). There are incredible cultural differences displayed with precision and accuracy. Yet, there are times throughout the film when the Japanese come in contact with the Americans, and there is a sense of shared humanity. They scene that shook me the most was the reading of a letter from the mother of a fallen American soldier. It brought tears to my eyes. Eastwood showed us something that we all know, but forget all too often: we are all human. Yeah, it sounds cheesy, but it's true. Jesus said "love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you," and I believe this film and its companion can be seen as a beautiful meditation in this idea. They don't love each other, but there are glimpses of a connection. Granted, they are fighting the biggest war the world has ever seen, but every once in a while you see soldiers on both sides realizing there is something bigger, something more important.
Clint Eastwood has done something special. At a time when the world is getting smaller, and understanding other cultures and peoples is becoming absolutely vital, a creative genius comes along and does something like this. Point of view is everything, and let us not forget that we (being whatever group you are a part of) do not have the only point of view that matters. This is epic, gutsy, eloquent, beautiful, intelligent, and important filmmaking. Thank you Mr. Eastwood for taking a chance to do something unique.