Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
"Hotaru no haka" (original title)

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

Director:

Isao Takahata

Writers:

Akiyuki Nosaka (novel), Isao Takahata

Stars:

Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi, Yoshiko Shinohara

Top 250 #103 | 3 wins.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Tsutomu Tatsumi	...	Seita (voice)
Ayano Shiraishi	...	Setsuko (voice)
Yoshiko Shinohara	...	Mother (voice)
Akemi Yamaguchi	...	Aunt (voice)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rhoda Chrosite	...	Setsuko (voice)
Shannon Conley	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Crispin Freeman	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Dan Green	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Amy Jones	...	Aunt (voice)
George Leaver	...	Additional Voices (voice)
J. Robert Spencer	...	Seita (voice)
Nick Sullivan	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Veronica Taylor	...	Mother (voice)

Storyline

Setsuko and Seita are brother and sister living in wartime Japan. After their mother is killed in an air raid they find a temporary home with relatives. Having quarreled with their aunt they leave the city and make their home in an abandoned shelter. While their soldier father's destiny is unknown, the two must depend on each other to somehow keep a roof over their heads and food in their stomachs. When everything is in short supply, they gradually succumb to hunger and their only entertainment is the light of the fireflies.

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Plot Keywords:

japan | shelter | food | hunger | air raid | 

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Genres:

Animation | Drama | War

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

16 April 1988 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Grave of the Fireflies

Company Credits

Production Co:

Shinchosha Company, Studio Ghibli

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono Dolby (as Dolby Stereo) (theatrical print)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the only Ghibili theatrical feature film to not be part of the Disney-Tokuma deal.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Seita: September 21, 1945... that was the night I died.

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Connections

References Oliver! (1968)

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Soundtracks

"Home Sweet Home"
Performed by Amelita Galli-Curci
Courtesy of RCA Victor Red Seal, a division of BMG Classics

User Reviews

The best movie you'll never want to see again

I had the fortune of being able to see Hotaru no Haka on the big-screen in Seattle a couple of years ago. It was truly the high-point of my film festival excursions. At the end of the movie, there was silence, absolute and total silence in the theater - and then, only an occasional sniffle until the end credits had finished rolling and the house lights came up. It would've seemed almost disrespectful to profane the silence with words.

Seeing a movie like this really changes attitudes about war - about who really suffers, and that the honor and glory is shallow comfort when you contemplate what has been lost in the struggle.

I've made the comment to my friends that if you ever see someone who isn't moved (usually to tears) by this movie, you've found someone without a soul. As difficult as it is to watch, turn off the phone, dim the lights, and immerse yourself in the film with ones you love - you will be a better person for it in the end.

There are many other reviews of this movie, and most of them are probably far more comprehensive than my own - I'll conclude by saying that this movie should required viewing at some point (as should the peace museums at Hiroshima and Nagasaki) for everyone.

When you see war and conflict in the news or read about it in the paper, think back to this movie - your perspective will probably be broadened, and your eyes opened a bit more.

I've only watched this movie about 4 times - it usually takes a year or so to "decompress" after watching it. To see it too often would lessen the impact, and that would be the worst possible thing to do to this movie.