GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES

PLEASE CLICK THE LINKS

1. HOW TO LOSE YOUR ACCENT

2. WATER AND HEALTIER DRINKS

Directed by: Isao Takahata

Screenplay by: Isao Takahata

Based on : "Grave of the Fireflies" by Akiyuki Nosaka

Produced by: Toru Hara

Edited by: Takeshi Seyama

Music by: Michio Mamiya

Productioncompany: Studio Ghibli

Distributed by: Toho

Release date: 16 April 1988

Running time: 89 minutes[1]

Country: Japan

Language: Japanese

Box office: ¥1.7 billion (Japan)[2] $516,962 (US)[3]

Story Line

In 1945, teenager Seita and his younger sister Setsuko's house is destroyed in a firebombing along with most of Kobe. They escape unharmed, but their mother dies from severe burns. Seita conceals their mother's death from Setsuko in an attempt to keep her happy, which she later learns of despite Seita's efforts. Seita and Setsuko move in with a distant aunt, and Seita retrieves supplies he buried before the bombing and gives everything to his aunt, save for a tin of Sakuma drops. The aunt convinces Seita to sell his mother's silk kimono for rice as rations shrink and the number of refugees in the house grows. Seita uses some of his mother's money in the bank to buy supplies, but eventually, the aunt becomes resentful to the children, deeming them unworthy of earning her food.

Seita and Setsuko decide to leave the aunt's home after excessive insults, and they move into an abandoned bomb shelter. They release fireflies into the shelter for light. The next day, Setsuko is horrified to find that the insects have died. She buries them in a grave, asking why they and her mother had to die. As they run out of rice, Seita steals from farmers and loots homes during air raids, for which he is beaten and sent to the police. The officer realizes Seita is stealing due to hunger and releases Seita. When Setsuko falls ill, a doctor explains that she is suffering from malnutrition. Desperate, Seita withdraws the last of the money in their mother's bank account. After doing so, he becomes distraught when he learns that Japan has surrendered, and that his father, an Imperial Japanese Navy captain, is most likely dead, as most of Japan's navy has been sunk. Seita returns to Setsuko with food, but finds her dying. She later dies as Seita finishes preparing the food. Seita cremates Setsuko's body and her stuffed doll in a straw casket. He carries her ashes in the candy tin along with his father's photograph.

Later on 21 September, shortly after the end of World War II, Seita dies of starvation at a Sannomiya train station surrounded by other malnourished people. A janitor is tasked with removing the bodies before the arrival of the Americans. The janitor sorts through Seita's possessions and finds the candy tin, which he throws into a field. Setsuko's ashes spread out, and her spirit springs from the tin and is joined by Seita's spirit and a cloud of fireflies. They board a ghostly train and, throughout the journey, look back at the events leading to Seita's death. Their spirits later arrive at their destination, healthy and happy. Surrounded by fireflies, they rest on a hilltop bench overlooking present-day Kobe.

Review

This anime depicts the story of brother and sister, the movie starts when their mother dies in the firebombing and their father was at war in the first half of the anime. After their home gets destroyed having Little or no choice left they had to live in a relatives' home but after some time they become resentful toward the siblings so they choose to leave the house soon after they found an abandoned bombed shelter. this anime shows the everyday fights of a brother how he tries to fights with all odds just to collect some food for his little sister while watching all these unfortunate incidents unfolding it will break your heart into pieces.it not only shows the real picture of the world how cruel it is but also shows how lucky we are to have a family and a place to live in. It makes you laugh, cry, sympathize, guilty and what more can you ask. I'm very lucky that I came across this anime. will highly recommend everyone to watch this.

Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grave_of_the_Fireflies