Reviews of Grave of the Fireflies

An animated masterpiece...

Posted : 1 week, 2 days 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 : 1 year, 2 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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