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Grave of the Fireflies | Year: 1988 Directed: - Isao Takahata It is not Anti American This is an outstanding war movie. The characters portray the drama of war beyond the field of battle. Two children, Seita and his little sister Setsuko, struggle for freedom and life in the midst of flying machines dropping fire bombs on villages far below, the rationing of food, and a culture insensitive to the needs of others, even starving children, as it itself tries to survive. Some have criticized Graves of the Fireflies as anti-American. I don't believe it to be so. There is not a single American in the movie. The words America, American, and the phrase United States of America is not said once throughout the movie. The planes dropping the bombs don't even have the markings of American planes. A viewer isn't even told that the movie takes place during WWII. It is weaponry such as the B52 that alludes to the time period. The only word of aggression toward the enemy is when Seita infuriated with another bombing angrily states that his father, a soldier, would make THEM pay for their actions. I believe the movie instead addresses the paradox of man's need for other and his attempt to live independently by his own rules. Seita and Setsuko retreat to a distant aunt's home after their own mother dies during a bombing. The aunt, stressed by rationed food, criticizes her young guests as lazy and unsupportive of the Japanese cause. Frustrated by their aunt's invective, Seita and his sister leave to make it on their own. They attempt to insulate themselves from the world by hiding in an abandoned shelter. Here they are alone and allowed to "live life the way they want." The environment, with its undulating river and green vegetation, is idyllic. They do not need to compromise who it is they are. Nevertheless, it is in this environment that the brother and sister struggle most. Seita does return to society during bombings to pilfer food while the rest of the world is hidden below in shelters. It is to no avail. He and his sister waste away in hunger. Nevertheless, they never return to the safe abode of their aunt's. A must see for anyone Be you child or adult, anime fan or not, this is the movie to see. Its sheer gritty realism and true to life tragedy give it a meaning that goes far beyond just hearing about the tragic deaths. Here we can see it first hand through the experiences of two children, both innocent but soon corrupted by their futile situation. The movie starts off with us seeing the ghost of a boy looking upon his own self, shortly after he has died. Then, he and the ghost of his little sister ride in a train, and the movie then starts as a flashback, while the children were living happily with their mother just before their home is destroyed. The older boy, Seita, and his little sister, Satsuko are orphaned and must live with their aunt, who is a little less than pleasant and urges them to do more for the war effort in Japan. So instead, they run away. Seita, being the older brother, neglects that the hardships lying ahead will not only effect him, but his sister as well. Post war time, he must resort to stealing when he runs out of money and things to trade. Their home is barely a home at all. Parents, do note, while there is no offensive material in this film, it does contain powerful imagery of the wounded, ill, and dead. The plot may be hard to understand for some children. This is still a film that should be seen, however. Very powerful and moving. Grave of the Fireflies. A masterpiece of the creative form Ever since I became a writer somewhere around 1996 or 1997, I've had an intense fascination and desire to create things that touch readers, whether through saddness, fear, or happiness, because I think that when a piece, either written or on screen, touches you emotionally, it leaves a lasting impact on you that can lead to a better understanding of the world around you, and even possibly yourself as well. I think that as a creator, this is the greatest achievement one can reach, and I have the utmost respect and admiration for anyone who accomplishes this very thing which I so eagerly wish to achieve. "Grave of the Fireflies" is the sad tale, based on the semi-autographical book "Hotaru no Haka" by NOSAKA Akiyuki, which tells of the author's experiences during the aftermath of World War II, in which he lost his little sister to malnutrition, for which he blamed himself. In "Grave of the Fireflies," 14 year old Seita and his 4 year old sister Setsuko lose their mother after the Allied forces bomb their village. Their father is in the Navy and at sea, and hasn't been heard from in a long while. Without going through the entire plot, suffice it to say that the story is a moving and frightening look back at the lives of two young children who should never have to face such horrors at their tender ages. The tone and mood of this heartwrenching piece is set from the very first scene, when Seita utters the fateful words "September 21st, 1945. That's the day that I died." Before watching "Grave of the Fireflies" I'd heard that it'd been referred to by many, like movie reviewer Roger Ebert, as one of the greatest war films made, and after watching it, I have to agree. Only a person with the emotional depth of a gnat or the heart of block of wood could watch this film and not feel the emotional power of it. It's the kind of story that lingers in your consciousness long after, and forces you to see the true face of war, the REAL consequences and victims of the violence we seem all too quick to inflict upon each other these days. And the most incredible thing about this movie is its subtleness, its complete lack of political propaganda or any attempt to try to blantantly force a moralistic ideal down the viewers throat. Director Isao Takahata shows supreme trust in the story itself, choosing to use the beautifully illustrated film to portray the tale in all its moving glory. In Japan this movie was shown in schools as an educational piece. I don't know if this has been done in America, but I think that it should. We need to learn to understand the entire spectrum of war, and on an even more basic level, we just need to teach our children the lessons of empathy and compassion so that when they find themselves in positions in which their decisions impact others, they'll take care to consider the consequences before making those decisions. I also think that every world leader should be forced to sit down and watch this film over and over un Buy Grave Of The Fireflies at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on Grave Of The Fireflies Search with the Priority Search Engine on Grave Of The Fireflies This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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