Grave of the Fireflies

[ai-chan]

On the final days of World War II, 14-year-old Seita and his four-year-old sister Setsuko are orphaned after their mother is killed during an air-raid by American forces in Kobe, Japan. After having a falling-out with their aunt, they move into an abandoned bomb shelter. With no surviving relatives and their emergency funds and rations depleted, Seita and Setsuko must struggle to survive their hardships as well as those of their country, which is on the losing end of the war.

[Selenium_Glow]

This movie...

was good... but I just watched it once. The ending hit me... though it doesn't hit normal people if they watch the movie as it goes...

The Ending hit me because that was something I was expecting to happen... 
And I don't like the fact that I was expecting something like that...

This movie, is pretty light otherwise... you won't feel terribly depressed at their situation... or so I felt

[ai-chan]

This is probably one of best war based anime movie ever made.

The story is based on bestselling novel by Akiyuki Nosaka, who was a survivor of the firebombing of Kobe in World War II. He battled starvation and actually lost his younger sister to malnutrition. Haunted for years by the experience, driven by the guilt of his sister's death, he wrote the book in hopes of silencing the ghosts surrounding him.

The movie has many facets. On one hand we get to see the hardship faced by the children and on the other hand the self-destructive patriotism of the people who reject their needs in support of the war.

[Selenium_Glow]

I know of a Japanese Movie director who had similar experience in WWII, loosing a lot of friends and colleagues... But he has made a movie that is far far too different from Grave of the Fireflies...

He is the Director of Battle Royal, Kinji Fukasaku

Well... just a random comment... but I liked Battle Royal better... 

[nukeu666]

This is the only ghibli movie which I have refused to rewatch
First time was magnificent enough

[animerox]

the plot was simple but very good and it definitely showed the plight of the innocent citizens during war... satsuko's expressions and reactions were beautifully portrayed

[Kyo]

Anyone seen the Live Action version? I wanted to but havent had the chance yet...lemme know if you have!

[ventus1991]

this movie made me cry man hmmm

[HERZIKA]

i definately have never cried so hard as i did for this movie, it is absolutely brilliant. Just thinking about it brings tears =[
And this movie is also my favorite anime

[doujin2002]

it made me cry I love movies that make me feel human

[shoujo22]

I usually never read the summaries of Ghibli movies and just watch them, knowing that I'll have something light and enjoyable to see. This one though...it was totally not what I was expecting. But it was, I think, is by far one of the best movies that Ghibli has ever released. There isn't much else that I can say that won't give away too much for those who haven't seen this. If you do have the opportunity to watch this though, then you really should. Man, there were some really depressing elements in this one, but it didn't make the experience any less enjoyable for me.

[sweetd]

this on was a very good movie and definetly the best ghibili movie

[rtgmath]

Grave of the Fireflies was a hard movie for me to watch. I cried as I realized the suffering the US bombing in Japan caused. This movie would not go over well in the US -- there are too many people here who think that everything the US has ever done was right and good. Even if the bombing could have been considered necessary, it should be mourned.

I am glad I watched it.