Simply one of the most honestly told, beautiful, heart breaking films ever made and it's a shame that this undiscovered gem isn't known throughout the animation realm. Perhaps it's a good thing that Grave of the Fireflies isn't well known because it will be free from the corrupted minds of cheesy Hollywood producers like Jerry Bruckheimer, who would of missed the point of the message entirely and add a brain dead script along with Josh Harnett as Seita. Or George `one trick pony' Lucas who would of used CGI Muppets to play humans, and add Jah Jah Stinks in there `for the kids' that leaves us with a kind of humour that makes us cry in despair. Anyway enough of my moaning.
I first stumbled upon Grave of the Fireflies whilst surfing on Amazon for the Princess Mononoke DVD were it popped up on the recommendation list, I was Hooked on the title and the plot. After watching it I was totally not disappointed with what I saw, and was left with a tear in my eye from the sheer power of it all. As you all know properly know that fireflies is set in 1945 Kobe during the closing months of World War 2, The main characters in this film are Seita and Setsuko where their mother dies in the American bombing raids whilst their father who is a navy officer on the cruiser `The Maya' not knowing if he is alive. They stay with their aunt for awhile who scolds them for being lazy and not doing anything for the war effort, and is reluctant to share rations with Seita and Setsuko. Even though she trades in their goods and their mothers goods to buy food. Eventually they leave and take refuge in a disused bomb shelter where after a few their hunt for foods leads to stealing. The one thing I truly admire about Fireflies doesn't use over dramatic images of destruction during the bombing raids and when Setsuko is grouchy for her mother. My mother loved this film and it reminded her of the Village she lived in, during 1950's Turkey. Where she lived in a very poor family with none of the things we take for granted like electricity and running water, and where kids had to make their own toys e.g. dolls with sticks, rags and cotton wool and playing with insects like dragonflies and fireflies. My mother cried when she saw Seita and Setsuko used fireflies to light up the bomb shelter it reminded her of how her brothers and sisters used to chase fireflies that would enter their room.
Grave of the Fireflies is directed by Isao Takahata who was one of the directors of the ever popular TV series of the 1970's Heidi', which became a social phenomenon in Spain and Italy (where in some cases that episodes were repeated due to popular demand) he was also one of the key animators on Hayao Miyazaki's critically acclaimed Princess Mononoke. Ever since I've seen Grave of the Fireflies and Princess Mononoke, I've grown obsessed with anime in particular with Studio Ghibli which has a great list of films to its name and I'm looking forward on seeing Studio Ghibli's next release Spirited Away which is due to hit British shores. I highly recommend this film and you won't be disappointed. I would like to end this mini review on a quote that sums up the films message and I believe Ecclesiastes put it best: Rejoice, O young man in thy youth'.
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