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The unsung hero, Saigo (Kazunari Ninomiya), was a baker until the Japanese took all of his baking pots and pans and other cookware; then he gets drafted and sent with little training to a place no one had ever heard of before: Iwo Jima.
There, a hardline Japanese "sergeant' almost kills him for complaining about the heat and such; Intervening, General Kuribayashi (Ken Watanabe) suggests to the sergeant that Saigo go without the (little) rations for the meals rather than kill him. the first day there.
When the battle begins with the Americans, him and his unit on the flank are successful holding the Americans at bay, until their meager ammo and supplies run out. General Kuribayashi orders them to return through enemy fire to the main Japanese defensive area, but the NCO in charge convinces many to kill themselves on the spot.
After only a few of those attempting to return make it through enemy fire, another hardline NCO again tries to kill Saigo and the few men remaining with him.
Enter General Kuribayashi, not believing in the "old-school" discipline, again saves Saigo's life a second time; he reminded the sergeant that he himself had ordered the surviving men to retreat back to the rear lines. General Kuribayashi has planned a final, suicide bayonet attack on the American Marines front line; covered well with heavy machine guns and superior manpower in waiting.
In the end, since vital papers had to be destroyed before the Americans killed the remaining Japanese forces, General Kuribayashi asked Saigo to destroy the vital papers and anything else before being captured, which General Kuribayashi did not plan on doing himself. He commented {paraphrased), "This is the third time I have saved your life recently."
I thought this was the first time that I have seen the brilliant actor Ken Watanabe, but he also played a role in "Tampopo (1987). I loved the style of leadership his character played; he knew Iwo JIma was a suicide mission but went anyway.
A special mention of actor Takumi Bando, who played the Japanese Olympic equestrian and Captain Tanda, who also knew that Iwo JIma was his final military assignment, but also willing obeyed orders from the Japanese military heads. The men admired him and it seemed his presence gave the Japanese troops more hope...
I especially enjoyed Captain Tanda and General Kuribayash's "Last Supper" together, both well-educated and refined gentlemen (characters) serving their country by going on a kamikaze mission and both doing the best they can under the circumstances!
I also saw much info on Clint Eastwood's directing the movie when this first came out, and I was glad that he put humanity into this film.
As I type this, Russia and Ukraine are fighting each other: the soldiers on both sides are not fighting for political gain, but to keep themselves and their fellow soldiers alive.
War is Hell, especially for conscripted soldiers like Saigo, who simply wants to live long enough to return home and hold his wife in his arms again...and possible eek out a living as a baker again as well!!
