Grave of the Fireflies

Starring: Ayano Shiraishi, Tsutomu Tatsumi Director: Isao Takahata Dvd Release: 7th October, 1998 Number Of Discs: 1 Format: Animated, Colour, NTSC, Region 0 Encoding Subtitled In: English Dubbed In: English

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Grave of the Fireflies is an anime movie written & directed by Isao Takahata for Studio Ghibli. It is an adaptation of the semi-autobiographical novel of the same name by Akiyuki Nosaka & is considered by many critics to be one of the most powerful anti-war films ever made. It takes place towards the end of World War II in Japan & is the poignant tale of the relationship between two children - Seita & his baby sister Setsuko - who lose their mother in the firebombing of Kobe & who as a result are forced to try to survive amidst famine & the callous indifference of their countrymen - amongst them family members. Ultimately the children do not survive & the graphic nature of their suffering & death is uniquely harrowing in the annals of anime. The film provides an insight into Japanese culture, by depicting war not a great victory or an heroic tale, but of a series of personal tragedies & losses that are endured without recourse to the apportioning of blame. In common with other Studio Ghibli productions the film is noteworthy for the high quality of its design & artwork.

Set in the closing stages of World War II in Japan, this film centres around Seita, a 14-year-old boy who is forced to look after his little sister Setsuko when their mother is killed in a bombing raid .

This undertaking proves to be quite a challenge. Food & supplies are heavily rationed, & Setsuko's seemingly constant cravings become a problem. The two stay with an aunt, but in all the mayhem she & the other members of her household are too busy worrying about their own affairs to worry about Seita & Setsuko, & our two protagonists end up living in a shelter. But Setsuko's well-being takes a turn for the worse...

Yes, this is an anime film, & yes, it dates back to 1988 , but it really is a classic, & a very important one - and, following recent events such as the war in Iraq, it's a timely release that shows just how devastating war is in raw imagery & with none of Hollywood's sugar-coating. GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES is a heart-wrenching, unsettling & tear-jerking film, & the fact that it's 2D cel animation is not enough to mute its effect . You really feel for Seita & Setsuko as they struggle to survive when the odds are stacked against them, & the characters are realistic enough to attract non-anime fans; by 'realistic' I don't just mean the quality of the artwork , but also the behaviour of the two main characters in particular: Seita, being an early teen, thinks he knows best & how to look after Setsuko; Setsuko undulates between sweetness, noisiness & self-centredness, just like a real 4-year-old might. We are a long way from the 'typical' big-eyed anime kids who seem to have the answer to everything when we watch this film.

GRAVE is packed with some truly memorable moments that will etch into your mind forever: in my case, the scene where Seita & Setsuko sleep with a whole heap of fireflies that they amassed is the one that I most remember about this film.

The director, Isao Takahata , has come up with a film that is essential viewing, & I would even consider it as being worth a good look if you are a student studying the effects of war. Just don't be surprised if you're in tears after watching it; it is a painful watch at times, but war's a painful experience, so it's justified here. This film deserves to be considered a classic for a long time to come.

Isao Takahata is one of the most famous directors of anime, or Japanese animated films. Born in Ujiyamada, Mie prefecture, Japan, he is a long-term colleague of Hayao Miyazaki & co-head at Studio Ghibli. war-film, romantic drama, comedy & ecological adventure. Of these Grave of the Fireflies, in particular, is widely considered among the greatest animated films ever made. Prince of the Sun. Ostracized within the company after the financial failure of the film, he & Miyazaki left in order to work together & collaborated on many other films. The Little Prince & the Eight-Headed Dragon -- 1962. The Biggest Duel in the Underworld -- 1963. 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother -- 1976. Seton Animal Chronicles. Jacky the Bear Cub -- 1977. Takahata information at nausicaa .net  .

Editors Choice: Lupin The Third, Grave Of The Fireflies, View DVDology

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