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You should see this film.
by Yahoo! Movies User (movies profile)
Mar 11, 2005
4
of
5 people found this review helpful
Why do fireflies die so young? Well, because they're fireflies, Billy..haha...well, anyway. Allow me a bit of levity, because you're about to delve into a thoroughly depressing film.
At the height of the Pacific side of World War II, Japanese cities were mercilessly fire-bombed by Allied forces. Of course, like in all wars, it was the common people who suffered, not the military.
Grave of the Fireflies is set in the midst of this firebombing campaign. It tells the story of a boy and his little sister as they try to survive in this madness. When their mother is killed during one attack, they move in with a relative, who eventually throws them out as rations grow thin. The duo make their home in an un-used bomb shelter, in an attempt to create their own vision of home.
If you are looking for intricate, powerful fights or comedic hijinks, you won't find them here. This is strictly drama. However, it's one of the best dramas I've ever seen, animated or not. The lesser-known (though no less talented) half of Studio Ghibli, Isao Takahata, has created a masterpiece that transcends the animation genre. The pain that the boy feels as he tries to create the illusion of normalcy for his sister is just as real as it would be in a live-action film. The animation quality and writing is excellent. It doesn't seem particularly political, and if a finger is pointed at anyone, it's at the Japanese people for not caring about the children.
Though it seems that I'm spoiling the film in my description, that is not quite the case. It's one of the points of this film that make it both wonderful and frustrating at the same time. In a nutshell, the film opens by showing the boy die of starvation in the subway, his spirit joining that of his sister among the fireflies. The rest of the film subsequently dares you to believe that they won't die. Both characters are very likeable, which only serves to make their inevitable end that much more painful. A Disney film this is not.
What is surprising is that this plot device in no way affects the strength of the film. It would be very easy to use the opening plot device as a way to push certain buttons, as is often the case in tear-jerker films. That happens far too often, and such films piss me off, because it seems so over-manipulative. However, the characters are surprisingly upbeat throughout the film.
I've seen this film many times, and there is one scene that always brings a tear to my eye (and that happens just about never, as far as films are concerned). If you haven't seen the film, you might want to stop reading now, and go see it, because I'm going to describe the scene, which happens late in the film. After the little sister has died, a montage of the little girl's antics are shown, as her spirit relives her life, appearing and disappearing. By itself, this is sad, but this alone doesn't do it. No, it's the addition of a happy family across the lake, playing There's no Place Like Home on an old Victrola as the scene plays out. Hearing the lyrics, and watching what has become of these two is a heartbreaking juxtaposition. That song will never have the same meaning for me again.
To put it simply, this is an incredible film that should be viewed again and again. I can't stress that enough. You should see this film. |
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