Grave — Of Fireflies

Grave of the Fireflies will ruin your week. You will cry. You will feel hollow. You might get angry at Seita, at the aunt, at the war, at yourself for watching.

Seita is a 14-year-old boy who believes in the old Japanese code of honor. He refuses to bow to his aunt’s cruelty. He refuses to beg. He steals food during air raids because he feels it’s more dignified than asking for help. And because of that pride, Setsuko dies of malnutrition. Grave of fireflies

Why You Should Only Watch Grave of the Fireflies Once (And Why You Must Watch It Anyway) Grave of the Fireflies will ruin your week

If you haven’t seen Isao Takahata’s 1988 masterpiece, stop here. Not because of spoilers, but because you need to brace yourself. This is not a cartoon. This is not a whimsical Studio Ghibli fantasy like My Neighbor Totoro (which, ironically, was released as a double-feature with this film). This is a two-hour funeral dirge for a nation’s lost innocence. You might get angry at Seita, at the