By: Kimberlee Neco and Syeda Haider

HOW HAS THE BATTLE OF IWO JIMA BEEN

PORTRAYED IN FILM OVER TIME?

The United States had just taken the Marshall, the Marianas, and the Caroline Islands

U.S. occupation of these islands facilitated air raids as the islands provided launch/landing sites

Following U.S. victory at the battles of Kwajalein and Eniwetok, approximately 1000 Japanese reinforcements were sent to Iwo Jima

Iwo Jima was the last obstacle between America and the Japanese mainland; the Japanese were prepared to make their last stand here, while Americans were confident in their ability to obtain another victory.

Before the Battle

22,000 Japanese troops under the command of Gen. Kuribayashi – could only defend the island

30,000 Marines under the command of General Smith – US had already been bombing Iwo Jima for 2 months

Feb. 19 – Americans did not make much progress but cut the island in two

Feb. 20 – Americans attacked Mt. Suribachi; three days later, took the mountain

Americans lost 6,891 men, 18,070 wounded; out of the 22,000 Japanese soldiers, 212 were taken prisoner

The Battle of Iwo Jima

http://www.jacklummus.com/Images/Images_H/Iwo_Jima_Red_1.jpg

http://members.cox.net/renegade_sith3/miscjunk/iwo-jima-map.jpg

Flags of Our Fathers - 2006 Dir. by Clint Eastwood; starring

Ryan Phillippe and Adam Beach In February 1945, the US Marines

attacked the Japanese-held island of Iwo Jima

Joe Rosenthal was responsible for capturing the picture of the raising of the American flag on top of Mount Suribachi

The three survivors in the picture were brought home from the war to take on their role as “heros”

All three had been dramatically traumatized by the violent fighting and all three find different meanings of the word "hero."

Letters from Iwo Jima - 2006 Dir. by Clint Eastwood; starring

KAZUNARI NINOMIYA and Ken Watanabe

The Imperial Japanese Army is desperate to prevent the island from falling to the Americans

General Kuribayashi is given command of the Japanese forces on the island

Kuribayashi, however, does not follow traditional rigid approaches

Kuribayashi, however, does not follow traditional rigid approaches

As the Americans attack, both Kuribayashi and Saigo discover strength, honor, courage, and horros at "Sulphur Island."

Sands of Iwo Jima - 1949 Dir. by Allan Dwan, starring

John Wayne and John Agar John Striker is a Sgt. who has

been given the task of training young soldiers for the battle of Iwo Jima

His trainees are frustrated with his harsh and strict routines until they finally understand why he trains them as such

This movie shows the warring feelings and the bravery that soldiers face everyday

Letters from Iwo Jima Lack of chaos/squalor in cities Too clean, inaccurate representation of battles/cities Assertion of “no support” false (kamikazes) Mistakes in the customs of the period Doesn’t explain true motives of Japanese defense of the

island Rewriting someone else’s history

Flags of Our Fathers Battles scenes/trench warfare more realistic Actual flag raising was accurate (2nd time) Lack of minorities American perspective

Historical Accuracy

Sands of Iwo Jima No enemy soldiers portrayed- bias NO minorities Battle scenes extremely unrealistic Too clean; very little bloodshed Facts mostly accurate (20,000 Japanese

soldiers)

Historical Accuracy Continued

Letters from Iwo Jima has the most emotional impact because it shows universal humanity Not only American flaws Acknowledgement of the other’s humanity

Flags of Our Fathers has a strong emotional impact due to it’s radical new views on the term “hero” Society’s definition vs. a soldier’s

Sands of Iwo Jima focuses more on the positive side of being a soldier Although independent film, government propaganda

is evident

Emotional Impact

Sands of Iwo Jima does not even acknowledge the Japanese side of war; not one scene of a Japanese soldier

Flags of Our Fathers was solely based on the American perspective; created for this purpose unlike Sands

Letters from Iwo Jima was created for the purpose of highlighting and depicting the Japanese perspective of the Battle of Iwo Jima; did not completely achieve goals of non-bias American perspective still evident Japanese soldiers still depicted as more animalistic America is still “good” and shown in a idolized light

Perspective and Bias

Bibliography