The
most powerful film about war ever made!
"Grave of the
Fireflies" did things to me that no war-themed
film has ever done. It touched me and taught me
and moved me in a way that no war film has ever
impacted me. It reduced me to this shriveled up
ball of tears aching, absolutely aching inside
at the beauty of the two lead characters,
Setsuko and Seita, and the pain they were
enduring. Quite honestly, this was one of the
most heartbreaking, moving and yet beautifully
filmed movies I have ever seen AND I was
watching it on this old, battered VHS copy that
didn't nearly bring out the wonders of this
film. It still was a brilliant film.
I didn't think it could happen. An anime film
that actually held my interest, kept my
attention and impacted me? It seemed impossible
and nothing had ever really come close. Even
after all the praise I had read of "Grave of the
Fireflies," I found myself cynical at best.
Within five minutes, the cynicism melted away
and was replaced by complete surrender to the
lives of these two characters.
As directed by Isao Takahata, "Grave of the
Fireflies" follows the life of a young boy,
Setsuko, and his considerably younger sister,
Seita, as they struggle to survive during World
War II in Japan. I chose to watch the Japanese
version, with subtitles, instead of the English
dubbed version of this film. The film is often
horrifying in its honest and brutal depiction of
Japanese society during this wartime with its
food shortages, bombing attacks and the general
state of crisis in the nation. Wisely, Takahata
chose to his own society in a frighteningly
honest light where people turn against one
another when, in fact, they need each other the
most. It is sad, just so sad to watch.
The style of animation is unlike other anime
films I've witnessed, and I found it remarkably
effective and powerful in the way it portrayed
the impact of the war.
The role of Seita, voiced by Tsutomu Tatsumi, is
the most powerful animated voice performance
I've ever seen or heard. Tatsumi is simply
brilliant in capturing the wide-eyed innocence
of this young child...the hopefulness, the
absolute trust and faith in her brother. When
she cried, I felt her pain...when she laughed, I
felt a sense of relief that for a few shining
moments she could feel some joy and relief and
hope even in the midst of what appeared so
hopeless. Tatsumi, quite simply, was stunning in
this role.
As the older brother bearing the incredible
responsibility of caring for his sister, Ayano
Shiraishi, also does a magnificent job of
capturing a young boy who is faced with an
immediate need to become a man. He fights and he
protects and he loves so beautifully. If anyone
has ever wondered what a real family should look
like, one need only watch this film to see the
finest example of a brother and sister I've seen
in film. It brings me to tears remembering it.
There is no aspect of this film that doesn't
work beautifully...it has, for me, become my
favorite in the area of anime and an instant
addition to my Top 100 of all-time. The film
features an outstanding score, exceptional
direction and unique, captivating animation.
Most importantly, it features a gentle yet
heartbreaking script that captures the most
intimate portrait of war ever captured on film.
©
Written by Richard
Propes
TC Candler's Comment
This
was just about as perfect an emotional
experience as I have ever had watching a film.
That voice is going to be in the back of my mind
for years. "Grave of the Fireflies" is the best
animated film of all time... one of the very few
to ever have me in tears.
The attention to the little details... the
simplest of stories. It reminded me somewhat of
"Life is Beautiful".
It is one of the saddest films of all time...
and yet, somehow, it is one of the most hopeful,
gentle and kind-spirited films I could imagine
ever being made.
It should be virtually impossible for a caring
person to watch this film without shedding a
tear.
This film immediately enters my Top 100 of all
time.
It is perfect.
Roger Ebert wrote of the film...
"Grave of the Fireflies" is an emotional
experience so powerful that it forces a
rethinking of animation. Since the earliest
days, most animated films have been "cartoons"
for children and families. Recent animated
features such as "The Lion King," "Princess
Mononoke" and "The Iron Giant" have touched on
more serious themes, and the "Toy Story" movies
and classics like "Bambi" have had moments that
moved some audience members to tears. But these
films exist within safe confines; they inspire
tears, but not grief. "Grave of the Fireflies"
is a powerful dramatic film that happens to be
animated, and I know what the critic Ernest
Rister means when he compares it to "Schindler's
List" and says, "It is the most profoundly human
animated film I've ever seen."
Jacob
Hall's Comment
N/A
