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Hotaru no haka (1988)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
16 April 1988 (Japan) morePlot:
A tragic film covering a young boy and his little sister's struggle to survive in Japan during World War II. full summary | add synopsisAwards:
3 wins moreUser Comments:
The best movie you'll never want to see again moreCast
(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: English version) | |
| Shannon Conley | ... | Additional Voices (voice: English version) | |
| Crispin Freeman | ... | Additional Voices (voice: English version) | |
| Dan Green | ... | Additional Voices (voice: English version) | |
| Amy Jones | ... | Aunt (voice: English version) | |
| George Leaver | ... | Additional Voices (voice: English version) | |
| J. Robert Spencer | ... | Seita (voice: English version) | |
| Nick Sullivan | ... | Additional Voices (voice: English version) | |
| Veronica Taylor | ... | Mother (voice: English version) | |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Grave of the Fireflies (UK) (USA)Tombstone for Fireflies (USA)
Tombstone for the Fireflies (Australia) (dubbed version)
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Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
89 min | Germany:85 min (DVD version)Country:
JapanColor:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 moreSound Mix:
MonoCertification:
Canada:G (Quebec) (video rating) (1994) | Canada:PG (Nova Scotia) (video rating) (2002) | Canada:PG (Ontario) (video rating) (2005) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) (video rating) (1993) | USA:Unrated | Finland:K-11 | Portugal:M/12 | USA:TV-14 (TV rating) | Chile:14 | South Korea:All | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | France:U | Hong Kong:IIA | New Zealand:M | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | West Germany:6Fun Stuff
Trivia:
NTV in Japan produced a live-action version of Grave of the Fireflies, in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the end of the World War II. The made-for-TV movie Hotaru no haka (2005) (TV) began airing on November 1, 2005 at 21:00 Japanese time. Like the animated version, the movie focuses on two siblings and their struggle to survive the final days of World War II in Kobe, Japan. However, unlike the animated version, the movie tells the story from the point of view of their aunt, and deals with the issue of how the war-time environment could change a kind lady into a cold-blooded demon, and stars the famous Japanese celebrity and actress Nanako Matsushima as the aunt. moreSoundtrack:
Home Sweet Home moreFAQ
How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?A Note Regarding Spoilers
Is this movie based on a (graphic) novel?
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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.