The Mosquito Bowl film depicts human cost of WWII Battle of Okinawa

Director Peter Berg's new film, "The Mosquito Bowl," portrays the true story of All-American football players who volunteered for the Marines after Pearl Harbor and fought in the Battle of Okinawa, the last and costliest battle in the Pacific during World War II, CBS News reported.

The movie is based on a book by Buzz Bissinger, who also wrote "Friday Night Lights," and it focuses on the human cost of war rather than football, Berg explained in an interview at Parris Island, South Carolina.

Berg highlighted the intensity of the battle scenes, including the first encounter with Japanese forces on Tarawa, aiming to convey the terrifying reality faced by the Marines, using real flame throwers and explosions to enhance authenticity.

The director's immersive research approach included spending time with military personnel and writing much of the script on Parris Island, which he said deeply affected him and influenced the film's portrayal of the soldiers' experiences.

CBS News national security correspondent David Martin discussed with Berg how the story of these young men trained for war was translated to the screen in the Netflix film.