Reviews of Grave of the Fireflies

Why must fireflies die so young?

Posted : 3 weeks ago on 9 December 2009 09:30 (A review of Grave of the Fireflies)

''Why must fireflies die so young?''

A tragic film covering a young boy and his little sister's struggle to survive in Japan during World War II.

Tsutomu Tatsumi: Seita

Ayano Shiraishi: Setsuko

''September 21, 1945? that was the night I died''

With those words starts director Isao Takahata's most famous film, Grave of the Fireflies(Hotaru no haka, 1988). Quite differently to his long time friend and colleague legendary Hayao Miyazaki, Takahata prefers to leave fantasy elements in his films to a bare minimum. This is the way Takahata amazes viewers and audiences. If Miyazaki's fantastic visions from Spirited Away for example, make our jaws drop to floor with amazement, Takahata's close to reality stories touch us deeply by hitting our emotions. Grave of the Fireflies certainly does that masterly; being one of the few films that has managed to move me to tears.



The film, based on a novel by Akiyuki Nosaka, tells the story of a young boy named Seita, who with his little sister Setsuko, lives in the 1940's Japan, during the World War II. After losing their mother during a bombing, Seita does everything in his power to create an illusion for Setsuko that things are fine and there is nothing to worry about. The film has been often blamed of being too depressing and having a sad conclusion, but I think it's the opposite. Of course this certainly is not the kind of film to make you smile, but it is already revealed in the beginning that both brother and sister will die. So when we reach the end of the movie; with an image of them as spirits, sitting on a bench looking happy and healthy, with a modern day city around them, this is actually a happy ending after all the suffering they went through.

It's very hard to say exactly why this film should deserve full stars from me. It just does. It's full of little beautiful scenes that instantly have an effect on you, accompanied by Michio Mamiya's peaceful music. Maybe the fact that it can make me wonder why it is so good is the proof enough to make it a masterpiece. And that is what Grave of the Fireflies is; a masterpiece. One of the most amazing films from Studio Ghibli and Isao Takahata's most famous film. Ultimate proof that animations can be used for so much more; not being merely restricted to children's stories.
It is hard to watch Fireflies and feel positive at all; the death and loss is too much for a number of people to fathom. However upon my own reflection; the movie is one of the greatest studies into loss, love and tragedy ever, which will stay with you and compel you to take a second look at anime and indeed life. For Anime is not simply just kiddie cartoons; it is simply another art form of conveying and presenting a story via an alternative format.
Initially distributed with Tonari no Totoro(1988); because it was the only way that Miyazaki could have been able to make his Totoro. The reason being that the original film pitch for that film was rejected, so they pitched a double feature with Isao Takahata's Grave of the Fireflies, and the project was eventually backed financially by the original writer of the book on which Grave is based. Often being overlooked as a film because whenever Totoro was screened first, people were left happy satisfied, then left; They did not wish to be saddened by Fireflies afterward.
Interestingly, in South Korea, the release of the movie at the time was postponed indefinitely because of the concern that the movie somewhat justified Japan's role in World War II. The truth for me is this: This story is about two siblings, the effects of war, the harshness of people and the grim reality of being homeless, sick and starving. It is not sympathetic to Japan during this period nor is it unabashed propaganda. This is storytelling; this is an innocent perspective of a boy and his sister.

Again, you realize immediately this isn't a fantasy piece like Spirited Away but one of reality; which ends up being just as genius and just as compelling to witness. Isao Takahata has crafted a tale that also has historical significance; in the sense it displays the sense of hopelessness and desperation in Japan at the time and especially near the end of the second World War. A nation that could not support itself; where the rich have always stayed rich and the poor became poorer; ending with a divide that bears similarities to Spielberg's epic film adaptation of the book Empire of the Sun. The reality of Hotaru no haka cannot be stressed enough; the struggle mesmerizingly significant. Propels Anime, lifting it to new dizzying heights of storytelling.

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An animated masterpiece...

Posted : 1 year, 4 months ago on 11 August 2008 10:29 (A review of Grave of the Fireflies)

"Why must fireflies die so young?"

General mainstream audiences commonly consider animation a mere kiddie fare. However, not all animation is childish by nature. In the past 20 years, artistic and expressive Japanese animators have exercised their animation as a medium to convey mature themes and occasionally impart an articulate story. To be sure, Japanese animation has had its fair share of low points with inane cartoons such as Pokemon (and Digimon for that matter), as well as hentai (anime porn) and fluffy comedies. Grave of the Fireflies was completed in 1988, and has received endless acclaim since its release. At the time it proved that Japanese animation can powerfully portray an anti-war message. It is extraordinarily rare to witness a film of this calibre: Grave of the Fireflies is an astoundingly eloquent achievement in the animated format.

Japan's Studio Ghibli has hit home runs with every one of its releases during the past 20 years. The triumphs of the studio include Kiki's Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke, and the more recent Spirited Away in addition to the expressively poignant and devastatingly emotive Grave of the Fireflies.

The film opens on a sad note with the death of a character. From there the film is told through flashback as we examine the lives of two people during World War II. The film starts off sad, and things only grow sadder. Set in Japan in 1945, we are introduced to 14-year-old Seita and his little sister Setsuko. They are drawn away from their home and are separated from their parents during a bombing raid. With no other alternative, the two move to live with their aunt whose hospitality becomes increasingly frosty as time wears on...to the point that Seita and Setsuko are driven to a life of fending for themselves. The war takes its toll on the supply line: as the war rages on, food and water grows scarcer. The two constantly struggle through hunger and desperation, becoming more reliant on each other for different purposes.

Although decades old, the animation still holds up and has only dated very slightly. The aforementioned Studio Ghibli spend years on just one of their masterpieces: delicately, meticulously crafting every frame. Each frame resonates with evocative and marvellously rendered backgrounds. The artists use every inch of the frame for good use. There are some sublime wide angles that showcase certain locations remarkably. Never is a single frame wasted in the fantastic storytelling.

Underneath there is a compelling anti-war message that brutally tells the audience something important: in war, the civilians and innocents are more affected than those on the battlefield. We've all seen films like Saving Private Ryan (released a decade later) and Platoon among several others, but Grave of the Fireflies delivers one of the most unyielding messages. Although the film is set during WWII, the proceedings could involve anyone in any nation at any time. Anonymous, faceless bombers release their malevolent payloads, not the Americans or any other disclosed country. Those on the receiving end aren't entirely Japanese in manifestation either, but rather a more generic human base. This shows that the film isn't just about two children during WWII...it's about children and victims of war on a global scale. It's a proclamation against the horrors perpetrated by those in power, not about any local problem. War itself is the adversary here, not any specific monster. Dexterously and magnificently told, this is a rare cinematic moment in which a story has been delivered in a manner befitting its importance without prejudice or pretension. It's not merely about two children suffering...it's everyone: it's humankind...it's the world. This point is conveyed in a brusque but effectual manner done so effectively that it has the ability to inspire all viewers to look within.

Overall, Grave of the Fireflies is a haunting, beautiful piece of Japanese animation. This is a movie that deserves to stand among the greatest anti-war productions in cinematic history. Life on the home-front during WWII has never been more powerful. The story is occasionally bleak, but this is an important masterpiece and a landmark in animation. A "kiddie fare" this is not...in fact adults should watch this first to determine if it's appropriate for their child due to the themes and underlying messages.

9.15/10

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Grave of the Fireflies review

Posted : 2 years, 6 months ago on 13 June 2007 02:31 (A review of Grave of the Fireflies)

Felt more deeply than any animated film I've ever seen in America.

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