Flags of Our Fathers

One of the most famous photographs in history was taken by Joe Rosenthal at the Battle of Iwo Jima, during the Second World War. The American people on a whole embraced this photo and saw it as a firm success for the army, so the government knowing that the war needed lots of added funds decided to cease this opportunity and sent the survivors of the flag razing on a propaganda based bond drive for the army. Clint Eastwood in the way he directed the film showed just how different an image of war is compared to a real war. Clint Eastwood allowed the viewer to get an insight to all three survivors of the photo and this gave an insight to how the war on Iwo Jima and the image that gave them a entirely different course in the war. The dissimilarities between battle at Iwo Jima and the bond drive are evident through the ways in which Clint Eastwood showed what all three men were thinking at different times throughout the bond drive of America.

The American Government took advantage of an opportunity that was given by the men who raised a flag on the island of Iwo Jima. The opportunity was to raise much needed funds for the war efforts happening overseas. Although it was based on propaganda and half truths three men flew home to go on a bond drive for the American army. To leave all your buddies and go home to become “heroes” in the eyes of society, all three knew that the real heroes are the ones back on Iwo Jima grinding out the well equipped Japanese risking there life instead of being back come home on a propaganda driven bond drive. All three knowing that they were not even the original flag raisers. John “Doc” Bradley said “Ours was the replacement flag we put it up when they took the other one down.” All three of the Soldiers who came home knowing they are living with a lie that should have them back in Iwo Jima fighting side by side with their mates.

There is one scene where the three flag raisers entered a crowded stadium before a football game which typified how an image of war can be so different to the reality of war. The flash photography, the cheering, the roar of the crowd all went to John Bradley’s head and he had flash backs of the fighting on Iwo Jima and the genuine heroes that he had left behind. This scene contrasts what the reality of war, were all the men are dug in and fighting for there life, and the images of war. Ira Hayes says “I know it’s a good thing, raising the money and that, �cause we need it. But, I can’t take them calling me a hero. All I did was try not to get shot. Some of the things I saw done, things I did, they weren’t things to be proud of, you know?” Clint Eastwood shows continuously, through his characters physiology shows how one single photo can be so different what really makes up the battle of Iwo Jima. The aim was to get war bonds; the minds of the three main characters through Clint Eastwood’s directing showed a strong insight to how the reality of a war and an image of war can be so contrasting.

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