Letters from Iwo Jima

“Letters from Iwo Jima”, as the Japanese eye of the battle narrated in “Flags of our fathers”, offers a different vision of the same event.
However, from the first shot to the last, this one improves the American vision. Eastwood goes into the soldiers’ psychology in an amazing way; we are able to observe the evolution of different ways of thinking in the same side of battle. The ancient traditions and values, the Japanese discipline, the fidelity to the land and the Emperor, as the columns of the Japanese traditional mind, contrast with the new way of thinking of the general in command, with the love of the family, with the survival instinct.
In the battle, some show respect for each other, some even respect the enemy, and others just do respect themselves, their own ideas. Some seem brave men, and others are just victims of the cruelest fear. But as the battle goes on, the feelings may change, the roles may be the opposite indeed.
In war, every man, whatever the side he is fighting for, may be a good man. In war, every man has his values, which may not be the same for all men in the same side, and, nevertheless, may be the same for some men considered “the enemy”. In war, every man is a victim.
Once outside the cinema I heard “Oh, it’s too long, there are moments when you disconnect”. In fact, the battle is long, there are moments when even the soldiers forget about it and dream of their families, of their past lives.
I did not like “Flags of our fathers” very much. Do not think you are going to watch the same film, “Letters of Iwo Jima” is definitely an excellent film, will the Academy have the same opinion?