Letters from Iwo Jima
The story of the battle of Iwo Jima between the United States and Imperial Japan during World War II, as told from the perspective of the Japanese who fought it.
Critics Sentiment
Kuribayashi commits suicide with his American gifted pistol after asking Saigo to bury him
Shimizu attempts surrender but is unlawfully executed by Marine guard
The film builds from Shimizu's brutal execution to Kuribayashi's powerfully moving final sacrifice, a 3.0 point swing that elevates the ending.
Critics consistently praised Letters from Iwo Jima as a masterful companion to Flags of Our Fathers, with particular acclaim for Ken Watanabe's performance and Eastwood's respectful portrayal of Japanese soldiers. The film builds steadily through realistic battle sequences to deeply moving character moments, with the Nishi-Marine friendship and Kuribayashi's final sacrifice earning universal critical praise. While some found pacing issues and questioned certain cultural aspects, the overwhelming consensus praised the film's humanity, authenticity, and powerful anti-war message.
Full cast
Showing 20 of 27
Ken Watanabe
General Tadamichi Kuribayashi
Kazunari Ninomiya
Private Saigo
Tsuyoshi Ihara
Colonel Baron Nishi
Ryo Kase
Private Shimizu
Shido Nakamura
Lieutenant Ito
Hiroshi Watanabe
Lieutenant Fujita
Takumi Bando
Captain Tanida
Yuki Matsuzaki
Private Nozaki
Takashi Yamaguchi
Kashiwara
Eijiro Ozaki
Lieutenant Okubo
Nae Yuuki
Hanako
Nobumasa Sakagami
Admiral Ohsugi
Luke Eberl
Sam
Sonny Saito
Medic Endo
Steve Santa Sekiyoshi
Kanda
Hiro Abe
Lt. Colonel Oiso
Toshiya Agata
Captain Iwasaki
Toshi Toda
Colonel Adachi
Ken Kensei
Maj. General Hayashi
Ikuma Ando
Ozawa
Crew
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