Synopsis

With his mother dead and his other relatives too concerned for their own survival, Seita and his sister Setsuko must fend for themselves in the harsh times of World War II

Review

"September 21, 1945... that was the night I died." It is very rare for the first line in a film to hit you as hard as Grave of the Fireflies' does, but this one line set's the tone for the rest of the film. This is no happy go lucky kids film, this is what real life was like, and it isn't pretty.

The main focus throughout the film is the relationship between Seita and his sister Setsuko, and it truly hit home just how well it's brought across to us. No matter what problems may arise, no matter what difficulties they faced, Seita always puts Setsuko first, and everything that he does within the film is so that Setsuko may stay happy during the harsh times. The bond between the pair is superbly told, and by the end of the film, you really do feel humbled.

I must admit, there are some truly shocking scenes in GOTF, but this is what makes it so special, it doesn't pull the wool over your eyes. World War II was a cruel time to live in, and watching this film will make you appreciate what we have today.

As for the animation side of things, GOTF is nothing we don't expect from Studio Ghibli, which is absolutely stunning work. The sheer amount of detail that has been put into the animation and sound is nothing short of breathtaking.

Grave of the Fireflies is one of those films that you won't want to watch over and over again, but this is in no way a bad thing. It's one of those rare films which is so special, that frequent viewings of it will destroy the impact it has on you. I've only watched it twice, and both times I was reduced to tears by the end of it, and not many films do that to me.

Conclusion

This is, without a doubt, one of the best pieces of work to come out of Studio Ghibli. If this film doesnt hit a nerve, then you really don't have a soul. Poignant, humbling and saddening, Grave of the Fireflies is a masterpiece.

-Review by Dormin87 (17 Feb, 2008)

Audio:	No overdramatic music to add to tone of the film
Video:	Sometimes graphic, but always beautiful
Plot:	Deeply harrowing and poignant
Style:	As you would expect from Studio Ghibli, superb
Characters:	Really shows how hard it was to live back then
Violence:	Moderate, some scenes which may be disturbing
Language:	None
Nudity:	Mild
Genre:	Drama
Episodes:	1
Rating:	5.0 of 5
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