Title: Hotaru no Haka (Grave of the Fireflies)
Genre: Drama
Synopsis: The film started with Seita, a young boy who is dying in starvation inside a train station stating the fact he had died that night. The ghost of the two young children was seen trying to bring back their memories. The memories of the two brothers who were trying to survive with their lives while in the greatest and most chaotic war in Japan.
The sound of the loud and tensing alarm that disrupted the temporary peace of the city of Kobe, the unwanted black smoke that covers the dull grey sky and the wailing cries of the new born dominating over the lump of burned bodies scattered around the dead city.
The Land of the Rising Sun lived in chaos during the World War II bombing.
Grave of the Fireflies taught us how important family that love must not fade in the greatest pain of our lives. Seita continued to love his younger brother until the last minute of his life. He continued to support Setsuko even though can’t even support himself.
The movie is too devastating to watch. It really made me cry in an instant. In the first line of the movie “On September 25, 1945, I died at night.” My heart shattered right away. In that very moment, I knew that it will be one of the most heart-breaking movies that I ever watched. Every detail of their live was shown in the movies. From their most innocent times despite of the ongoing war to their most desperate time was delivered effectively making every viewer cry with their hearts out.
Animation: 10/10
The movie was produced by one of the most popular studio in Japan, Studio Ghibli and when it comes to the films of Studio Ghibli, their iconic animation and color combinations in the film is widely known. Thinking that “Grave of the Fireflies” is now 30 years old, the animation of the film is too modern. The small details of the movement of Setsuko, the young boy in the film, are being shown. You can even compare the animation and the art of this film with Makoto Shinkai’s films “Your Name”, “5 Centimetres Per Second” and his latest movie to be released here in the Philippines “Weathering with you”. Aside from the studio’s jaw-dropping art style and animation, the good thing in this movie and of all the Studio Ghibli movies is the moral in their stories.
Soundtrack: 9/10
I am not really sure if I graded it's soundtrack right. Some of the BGM are kind of creepy for me though it is supposed to be sad. Maybe it's because this movie is old?
Overall: 10/10
This movie is highly recommended for ages 7 and up with parental guidance for the kids and with emotionally stable mind before watching the film. The movie might trigger memories that may result for breaking down of emotions after watching the film.
A/N: This entry is actually for the featured article for my midterm exam so if you noticed some changes on how I wrote it, that is why. \
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