'Underrated' war film based on true story has Amazon Prime viewers sobbing: 'Masterpiece'

Amazon Prime fans have been blown away by a war film which has been hailed as a "masterpiece". Letters from Iwo Jima, released in 2006, follows Japanese soldiers who fought during the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II. This significant battle spanned five weeks and witnessed some of the most brutal fighting of the Pacific War. Approximately 18,000 Japanese out of the 21,000 stationed there and nearly 7000 Americans lost their lives.

The Japanese-language film, directed and produced by Clint Eastwood, is a companion piece to Flags of Our Father, which depicts the same battle from the viewpoint of American soldiers. Ken Watanabe stars as General Tadamichi Kuribayashi, while the cast also features Kazunari Ninomiya and Tsuyoshi Ihara, amongst others. Letters from Iwo Jima received widespread critical acclaim and was even nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Eastwood.

Despite the film only winning the gong for Best Sound Editing, Eastwood's approach to capturing the conflict on screen was commended by critics and viewers.

The synopsis for Letters from Iwo Jima reads: "When General Kuribayashi's subordinates refuse to follow his commands to march towards the American military camp to attack them, Saigo, a young soldier, finds courage and strength to support him.

Since its release, the film has received raving reviews from fans over the years and is available to purchase on Amazon Prime Video.

Letters from Iwo Jima has an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score of 91% and many viewers have taken to social media to share their verdicts.

"Flags of our Fathers. Letters from Iwo Jima. Just a masterpiece," one declared on X as another penned: "I am moved to tears by Letters From Iwo Jima."

"Letters from Iwo Jima is truly a masterpiece of his. But it's painfully underrated," added a third as a fourth echoed: " I think Letters from Iwo Jima is one of the best war films I've ever seen."

Another posted: "Have you seen 'Letters From Iwo Jima' by any chance? One of the few war movies to move me to tears."

Someone else chimed in: "To anyone who's not had the pleasure, the movies "Flags of Our Fathers" & "Letters from Iwo Jima" do an incredible job at showing what this would've been like from each sides perspective. Really amazing films."