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Grave of the Fireflies

Original title: Hotaru no haka
  • 1988
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
8.5/10
287K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,189
67
Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Trailer for Grave of Fireflies
Play trailer1:47
4 Videos
99+ Photos
AnimationDramaWar

A young boy and his little sister struggle to survive in Japan during World War II.A young boy and his little sister struggle to survive in Japan during World War II.A young boy and his little sister struggle to survive in Japan during World War II.

  • Director
    • Isao Takahata
  • Writers
    • Akiyuki Nosaka
    • Isao Takahata
  • Stars
    • Tsutomu Tatsumi
    • Ayano Shiraishi
    • Akemi Yamaguchi
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    8.5/10
    287K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,189
    67
    • Director
      • Isao Takahata
    • Writers
      • Akiyuki Nosaka
      • Isao Takahata
    • Stars
      • Tsutomu Tatsumi
      • Ayano Shiraishi
      • Akemi Yamaguchi
    • 956User reviews
    • 142Critic reviews
    • 94Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #44
    • Awards
      • 3 wins

    Videos4

    Grave of the Fireflies
    Trailer 1:47
    Watch Grave of the Fireflies
    What to Watch When You Need a Good Cry
    Clip 1:48
    Watch What to Watch When You Need a Good Cry
    What to Watch When You Need a Good Cry
    Clip 2:25
    Watch What to Watch When You Need a Good Cry
    When You Need a Good Cry
    Video 1:51
    Watch When You Need a Good Cry

    Photos200

    Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
    Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
    Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
    Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
    Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
    Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
    Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
    Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
    Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
    Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
    Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
    Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Tsutomu Tatsumi
    • Seita
    • (voice)
    Ayano Shiraishi
    • Setsuko
    • (voice)
    Akemi Yamaguchi
    • Aunt
    • (voice)
    Yoshiko Shinohara
    • Mother
    • (voice)
    Kôzô Hashida
    • Obayashi Chairman
    • (voice)
    Masayo Sakai
    • Woman who takes care of Setsuko
    • (voice)
    Kazumi Nozaki
    • Cousin
    • (voice)
    Yoshio Matsuoka
    • Gosaku
    • (voice)
    Masahiro Kanetake
    • Aunt's house guest
    • (voice)
    Kiyoshi Yanagawa
    • Patrolman
    • (voice)
    Hajime Maki
    • Man who arrests Seita
    • (voice)
    Atsuo Omote
    • Person in bank
    • (voice)
    Teruhisa Harita
    • Station worker
    • (voice)
    Hiroshi Tanaka
    • Person in bank
    • (voice)
    Michio Denpô
    • Station worker
    • (voice)
    • …
    Shirô Tamaki
    • Person in bank
    • (voice)
    Tadashi Nakamura
      Mika Sekita
      • Nurse
      • (voice)
      • Director
        • Isao Takahata
      • Writers
        • Akiyuki Nosaka
        • Isao Takahata
      • All cast & crew
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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      Storyline

      Edit

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        This film was initially distributed with My Neighbor Totoro (1988) because it was the only way that Miyazaki could have been able to make "Totoro." The reason being that the original film pitch for that film was rejected, so they pitched a double feature with "Grave of the Fireflies," and the project was eventually backed financially by the original writer of the book on which "Grave" is based. It often was overlooked as a film because whenever "Totoro" was screened first, people were left happy and did not wish to be saddened by "Grave" afterward.
      • Goofs
        Right at the beginning, someone places what looks like a rice ball loosely wrapped in some tree bark as a protective cover next to the boy known as Seita. The scene cuts to Seita's face and soon after he collapses, the wrapped rice ball is nowhere to be seen.
      • Quotes

        [first lines]

        Seita: September 21, 1945... that was the night I died.

      • Connections
        Featured in Siskel & Ebert: True Crime/Ravenous/The King and I/Forces of Nature/The Harmonists (1999)
      • Soundtracks
        Home Sweet Home
        Written by H.R. Bishop (uncredited)

        Performed by Amelita Galli-Curci

        Courtesy of RCA Victor Red Seal, a division of BMG Classics

      User reviews956

      Review
      Review
      Featured review
      10/10
      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.
      helpful•1K
      39
      • Nogami
      • Aug 26, 2001

      Top picks

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      FAQ3

      • What does the fireflies represent?
      • Is this movie based on a (graphic) novel?
      • What's in the box that Seita carries with him?

      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • July 26, 1989 (United States)
      • Country of origin
        • Japan
      • Language
        • Japanese
      • Also known as
        • La tumba de las luciérnagas
      • Production companies
        • Shinchosha Company
        • Studio Ghibli
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Box office

      Edit
      • Budget
        • $3,700,000 (estimated)
      • Gross US & Canada
        • $516,962
      • Opening weekend US & Canada
        • $158,101
        • Aug 12, 2018
      • Gross worldwide
        • $516,962
      See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

      Technical specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        1 hour 29 minutes
      • Color
        • Color
      • Sound mix
        • Dolby Stereo
      • Aspect ratio
        • 1.85 : 1

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