Grave of the Fireflies (Hotaru no haka) is a 1988 Japanese anime war drama
film written and directed by Isao Takahata and animated by Studio Ghibli.
A tale of the true tragedy of war and innocence lost..
In the aftermath of a World War II bombing, two orphaned children struggle to
survive in the Japanese countryside. To Seita and his four-year-old sister, the
helplessness and indifference of their countrymen is even more painful than the
enemy raids. Through desperation, hunger and grief, these children's lives are
as heartbreakingly fragile as their spirit and love is inspiring.
Includes both English dub and original Japanese (subtitled) versions. From
the Studio Ghibli Collection.
Special Features
- Bios and interviews with Director Isao Takahata and Author
Akiyuki Nosaka
- Interview with Film Critic Roger Ebert
- Historical perspective with commentary
- Video Restoration Documentary
- Original Trailers
- and more!
Grave of the Fireflies Reviews
“Very simply the gentlest and most touching war-related film I've ever
seen.” Combustible Celluloid
“An emotional experience so powerful that it forces a rethinking of
animation…Because it is animated and from Japan, “Grave of the Fireflies”
has been little seen. When anime fans say how good the film is, nobody takes
them seriously. Now that it’s available on DVD with a choice of subtitles or
English dubbing, maybe it will find the attention it deserves. Yes, it’s a
cartoon, and the kids have eyes like saucers, but it belongs on any list of the
greatest war films ever made.” Roger Ebert
“One of the most devastating anti-war films ever made, animated or
otherwise.” About.com
“This film is a necessity for any animation collection and highly
recommended for its beauty and emotional impact…the film succeeds brilliantly
on many levels” DVD Talk
“Great movies cannot depress me, no matter how sad they are. There are
few that can penetrate my thick shield of cynical armour, those that help me
become a better person. Kurosawa's magnificent Ikiru, a film about finding
meaning in life gives me hope. Grave Of The Fireflies is another. It is one of
the most shattering anti-war movies ever made, a masterpiece so deeply sad and
unrelenting that some may find it hard to watch. It is film about the idea of
loss, finding a reason to live…It is an intrinsically beautiful film, its
hand-drawn animation among the finest I have ever seen, stretching the emotions
to the purest of empathy. I say pure, since it wraps itself around the hearts
of the audience without effort. Watch the minimalism, the way the children
behave like children, the younger Setsuko dancing among the fireflies,
reflecting light on to her, the slow rhythm of storytelling, the painted
backdrops. It is a film that can be viewed as artistry, as well as a great
narrative…Sprinkled throughout the film is a humanity, beating against the
terror and the despair, teaching us not to think of war in terms of ideals, or
politics, but in the knowledge that suffering strips away the veneer of "us
versus them”." EyeForFilm.co.uk
“.. a beautiful lament and a moving tribute to the people we rarely
consider when we think about World War 2: those Japanese who suffered for the
crimes of their leaders.” Looking Closer
“The stylised images suit the simplicity and gravity of a grim story of
love, sacrifice and survival in the face of adult indifference and
cruelty.” Observer UK
“Writer-director Isao Takahata, a frequent collaborator of
Miyazaki's at Studio Ghibli, adapted a partly autobiographical novel by Akiyuki
Nosaka, and his handling of the tragic story is masterfully understated.”
Chicago Reader
“Ranks among the greatest of anime.” San Francisco Examiner
“..not only one of the greatest anime ever, but also an important
(anti-) war film. A moving masterpiece.” Film 4