Grave Of The Fireflies Movie Review (1988)

Grave of the Fireflies grabs your attention from the very first sentence. There aren’t a lot of movies that can do that, but that isn’t the only way that this one is special.

Studio Ghibli films have been around for about 40 years. A Japanese animation studio, you may have heard of some of the more famous films like Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, or more recently, The Boy And The Heron. Grave of the Fireflies is among the first films that were produced, and I’d argue, one of the very best.

Grave of the Fireflies is the story of Seita, a teenage boy, and his little sister Setsuko, in Japan during World War II. With the constant fire-bombing of their village and the surrounding areas, it is never safe. In trying to escape, they become separated from their mother and have to fend for themselves. With very few options, Seita spends his days trying to keep them both secure and fed, and his sister happy.

This is not a film for the faint of heart. It is distressing and harrowing, but also beautiful and touching. There are a lot of emotions going on, and they will bounce around frequently.

Seita is a focused teen who is almost never allowed to grieve or feel the feelings that are buried so deep inside him. He is tasked with survival of himself and Setsuko, and most of the time, that is the only priority.

Setsuko is a sweet and typical little girl, full of imagination, curiosity, child-like needs, and mostly love and admiration for her brother. And her laugh, like an adorable little squeezebox, contains the wonder and happiness that all children should experience.

The siblings have no real support system, although they do find some kindness here and there. Many people are struggling, so you see that play out differently, depending on their priorities. Some of it is a little difficult to watch.

While you may think that cartoons aren’t your thing, be assured that this is not a cartoon. Animation is just a different platform for filmmaking, and this is not a story for children. It is a testament to what people have gone through (and go through) just to meet each new day. It is a tale of survival and love with a brave and tortured teen who only wants for them to both wake up each morning.

Runtime: 89 minutes

Motion Picture Rating: Not Rated (I would put it somewhere between PG and PG-13 only based on subject matter)

Languages Spoken In The Film: English (but other options may be available depending on the platform. If you are able, watch it in Japanese with English subtitles, it’s a better experience.)

Should You Watch It? Yes

Did I Cry? Yes, my eyes got wet

My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Available: Free on Netflix or may be available for free on other streaming platforms