Grave of the Fireflies
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Movie Reviews of Grave of the Fireflies
Movie Review: Children in the time of war
Summary: 5 Stars
Beautifully animated film about brother and sister during WWII Japan. With their father away on the front and their mother killed in an air raid, these two young orphans are forced to look after themselves. Their close relatives are too absorbed to look after themselves and their own families to care enough about feeding two more children. So these two young ones are doing everything they can within their power in order to survive. They create their own home in the abandoned shelter and they feed on rice and frogs. Their unconditional love for each other is very touching. In between bombings and air raids, they are just being kids: playing with each other, catching fireflies, swimming in the ocean and picking flowers. It is each other's company that keeps them hopeful about their future. But war has no mercy and as in this story, it collects its wants in young innocent lives. It is hearbreaking to learn these children's fate. While this is animated film, I would be careful what age of children should watch it. It depicts death, indifference of adults towards each other and children during the time of war and hardship during wartime no child should ever learn on his own. Definitely and anti war animated film that educates adults about the by-product of war - orphaned children who often in time of chaos and fear cannot fend for themselves, that inevitably leads to their death. Very emotional film.Movie Review: The Greatest Movie I Have Ever Seen! (Volume 1: Part 4)
Summary: 5 Stars
There are many reasons for people to experience the world of Anime, but none so important than Studio Ghibli's 'Grave of the Fireflies.' This Studio Ghibli film is not directed by Hayao Miyazaki, but rather the other major brainchild of Ghibli Isao Takahada. Both geniuses of their genre, but very different. When you see such a film as 'Grave of the Fireflies' you will catch the differnece instantly.
This film tells the story of an orphaned brother and sister during the air raides on World War 2 Japan and their extremly loving bond as they went through numerous hardships of angry family members to struggling to survive. This film is so rich emotion it made me burst into tears just seeing how real these animated characters were and how much love was in their hearts. You just don't get this kind of emotion from any other animated film nor do you see it in any film in general.
This movie was praised by critics and film goers worldwide as probably the greatest film of all time. If not that than a very important one that should be seen. What Takahada brings to the Ghibli line-up is real human intrest in real life situations that tugs at your heartstrings. I swear that once the credits role you will just sit there awestruck at what you just experienced. I did.
Movie Review: The "Lie" That Tells the Truth
Summary: 5 Stars
When I saw that film critic Roger Ebert had said that this animated story (88 minutes long) about a brother and sister in Japan in the last, fiery year of World War II... "belongs on any list of the greatest war films ever made," I was curious but also skeptical. I subsequently checked it out from the library, and, after seeing it, I ordered my own copy from Amazon to see it again and to share it with friends.
I am a combat veteran (Vietnam), and I tend to shy away from war movies because of my squeamishness and their masochistic, false bravado. GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES is different. Although a fictionalized account of particular civilians caught in a particular war, it tells the truth of the "caught-between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place" scenario of all civilians caught in all wars. Although it is not a jovial story, it transcends war's inherent sadness with glimpses of the dignity and selflessness of most (though not all) of war's innocent victims.
Anyone who has difficulty loving one's enemy (and/or has difficulty loving one's "allies"---warts, wrinkles, and all) would benefit from seeing this film. It is more poetic than preachy. Humankind is the victor.
Movie Review: A bag full of white rice made me cry
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm a Japanese woman in my early forties. I first watched the film when it was first released in the cinema, and several times since during the subsequent years; I've always been moved, but not to the point of bawling. That's perhaps because I'm of the generation with parents telling me their firsthand experiences of this period, of hunger and death and desolation; so, although this story is deeply poignant, I was not surprised or shocked by it (when I first read Barefoot Gen in my early teens, then I was shocked).
But upon learning by chance how highly this film was reviewed here, I decided to watch it again. Was moved again. And after wiping my eyes and blowing my nose, I turned off the DVD and got up to make dinner. You must understand, this is the time in Japan when the rice crop of the year is harvested, and reaches individual homes. This is the one and best time in the year for great rice. And in my kitchen, there was an unopened big bag of freshly-harvested rice, waiting for me. I opened it, saw the bright, milky white pulses, almost glowing luminescently. And I started to cry. Sob. Bawl. A bag of rice made me bawl. That's what this film does to you.
Movie Review: "Why do fireflies have to die so soon?"
Summary: 5 Stars
When little Setsuko asks this question, she of course cannot realize that it's metaphorical. Why must innocents suffer and die during war? How can some adults be so indifferent or cruel? Why do the brother and sister, as well as their parents, have to die?
I don't usually watch anime films as they are not terribly interesting to me. However, this one is an exception. Beautifully animated, it tells the moving and ultimately tragic story of two siblings who survive the firebombing of their Japanese village, only to be kicked out by their aunt and left to fend for themselves in the countryside. Seita tries to keep himself and his little sister alive and sheltered, but there is too much against him and he is eventually overwhelmed. Little Setsuko succumbs to malnutrition in the end.
The fireflies in the title are featured prominently in the film, both literally and figuratively. The children love watching them, trying to catch them, playing with them. Setsuko buries them in a little grave after discovering how short their lifespan is.
Enough said.