"Why do fireflies have to die so soon?"
- Setsuko
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As I got interested in watching the work of Glibli movies, most Glibli lovers suggested watching "Grave of Fireflies". I found out that the anime depicts a realistic portrayal of World War II and the sad mess created through war. Thus I was curious to know how heartbreaking anime was. Really The anime is an emotional masterpiece which reflects the pure and realistic consequence of war and conflict. It shows the tragic life of a young teen boy and his little sister who gradually lose everything they have, from the loss of their home to the death and the death of hope at the end of World War II. This heartbreaking honest anime shows anti-war awareness through the perception of children. It is a semi-autobiographical story of the writer's experience in the war with his younger sister, to help him process the guilt he felt for what happened. The story is about tremendous loss, the pain that comes with it, and the despair and striving for survival. It makes us realize that war is horrendous. The horrors of war cannot be fully captured with mere words. The aftermath extends for centuries and beyond. Wars don’t end anything. Only the dead have seen the end of the war.
The anime starts with Seita, a 14-year-old Japanese boy dying at the station with an empty rushed candy can. As the sweeper tries to dispose of his body, he notices the can and throws it. The throwing can open with the light of fireflies and the soul of Setsuko, a 4-year-old sister of Seita and flashbacks to the story of their hardship. On the final days of World War II, Seita and Setsuko lose their mother who gets killed during an air raid by American forces in Kobe, Japan. Their aunt gave shelter to them but shows little compassion, and even accuses them of being a burden by reducing food resources. So, they moved into an abandoned bomb shelter and relied on each other completely and struggled against all odds to stay together and stay alive. Seita is forced to grow up quickly as society shows its back. His struggle grows as Setsuko suffers from malnutrition. Seita steals some crops to feed his malnourished sister, and he is mercilessly beaten when caught. But sadly Setsuko dies and Seita performs her funeral. Afterwards, Seita too dies. The movie ends with the departed soul of Seita and Setsuko watching the modern lights of the city from their graveyard in a peaceful way. It ends up being a tearjerker without even trying to be one.
In Japan, where Fireflies are known as ‘Hotaru’, they have been particularly revered: a metaphor for passionate love in poetry, they are also thought to hold the souls of fallen soldiers. Thus, "Grave of Fireflies" shows gratitude to the departed soul. The makers did not want Seita to have sympathized but wanted to show the cruelty of war. Through their lives, we learn what their world is like. People feel deflated and depressed, and a casual attitude towards the most terrible possibilities settles in. It was shown very well. It also shows how lucky we are to have a family and a place to live in. This movie should be shown to everyone who wants war as an answer to everything. I found that if you finished watching the movie and went back to the beginning where Seita dies and meets his sister in the "afterlife" at the field where the fireflies were, you would feel much better, as the ending would seem much more hopeful. Though the human spirit may not always triumph in the end, Grave of the Fireflies proves that with the right people beside you, you will always find ways to be happy, even if you have nothing else left. Too often we fail to appreciate the things we have now. Watching these children get genuinely happy with very simple things will move anyone, sometimes to the point of tears.
The humbling dialogues of the characters and the soundtrack are the real strength in its making you emote through; when there are happy parts, it becomes even sadder when you realize how the two deserved better. the animation is a masterpiece. It looked strong, captivating and closer to life. The amount of detailing is just brilliant. it doesn't try to be a "story" but moreover an excerpt from the lives of the brother and sister. Many scenes in this film highlight the basic human instincts for survival, having the viewer experience these feelings too, with our protagonists declaring their needs directly (I'm so hungry... I am so thirsty....I need to use the bathroom) This is something that connects the audience to the character's suffering, as we all know how it feels when you're very hungry, very thirsty or feel ill. As someone said I think it is a beautiful movie never to be watched again as the more it watch, the more heartbreak can be felt.
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