Grave of the Fireflies Movie Review by aznwolfe
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	Audience:	13+
	Genre:	Drama
	Usual Running Time:	88 min.
	Average Cost:	$ 29.95 dub/suB
	Contains:	Animated Violence, VERY depressing!
	Music:	A
	Animation:	A
	Plot/Storyline:	A
	Rating:	A

Grave of the Fireflies is a brilliant movie that shows the horrors of war through a civilian's perspective. Set in Japan during and after World War 2, it features the lives of a boy and his 4-year old sister. After many unfortunate incidents that occur during the course of the movie, 14-year old Seita and his little sister are forced to live on their own.

"September 14, 1945. That was the day I died."  These words set a dark and depressing scene and right away you know it's going to be a serious movie. A thin boy, a young man almost, with tattered clothes is leaning against a pillar in the subway station. His eyes distant and unfocused, are seemingly oblivious to his surroundings as crowds of people rush through, heading towards their next destination. Voices, cries, and noises of footsteps fills your ears. Seita falls forward and suddenly, all sounds stops. Passengers are still moving around him, but everything is now silent. His face fills the screen. He breathes heavily and whispers something so quietly that viewers have to strain to hear: "Setsuko." What relevance does the word "Setsuko" have to the movie?  As quickly as that happens, time elapses. Other crucial scenes takes place. Then finally the title of the film emerges subtley, and the movie starts as a flashback, before the previous scenes occurs.

Grave of the Fireflies is a brilliant movie. The animation is flawless (the style is similar to that of Hayao Miyazaki's work) and music is absolutely haunting.  The dubbing is impressive as well. Seita's voice actually fits in perfectly. As for the voice of the little sister, I personally think it is a little too much on the "cutesy-baby" side. But that's only my opinion. The storyline is fantastic, and the artistry: deep.  The color red plays a major role in the movie, as does fireflies.  In one scene, his sister asks him a crucial question, "Why do fireflies die so soon?"  When Seita hears her question, he breaks down and starts crying. Lots of subtle symbolism. A very deep theatrical movie.

Anyway, I hope I've written Seita's time of death (9/14/45?) correctly. As for the downside to the movie, there really isn't anything major except that it is very VERY depressing. It was one of the most depressing movies I have ever seen. The movie is not recommended for kids under 13 because it shows plenty of blood and death. Although I do agree that Grave of the Fireflies is a fantastic movie, I would not see it again because I wouldn't like to get depressed again. FYI: Grave of the Fireflies won First Prize in the "Best Animated Feature" and "Rights of the Child" categories at the 1994 Chicago International Children's Film Festival.

Image not created by me.