Heart Wrenching

Rating: 10/10 (6 June 2011)

This had to be the most powerful movie I have ever seen. A young boy Seita who looks after his younger sister Setsuko during World War two. Set in the time where Japan allies with Germany to bring themselves fortune and fame through war. Yet in a small little village Seita and his family are raided by US and English bombers which sets back his town to the stone age. With both their mother gone from extremely serious injuries, Seita and Setsuko stays with a family friend who seems hell bent on making both of their lives as miserable as possible by making Seita feel guilty for not being more of a man and to aid their family. Seeing as they might becoming a burden, Seita and Setsuko then leave to live on their own, only to realize that finding food and medicine is even tougher than the war itself. This was one of the most tragic and beautiful stories I have watched in a long time. The music was top notch as was the characters who gave a really fine performance whether nasty or not. Setsuko was the real deal, seeing her dwindle to become a malnourished and diseased ridden little girl was more than I could bear, but I could not stop watching through tears. The idea of how war tear people apart is as true today as it was in history. Nobody should have to go through with what Seita and Setsuko went through. Determination was the mainstay for Seita, his ability to give his sister food by bartering or even stealing, is enough to show how far people go to save their own family. And to see others just dismiss or even shuck away the youths in the face of dying is enough to reach out and grab their throats. It's amazing how far people will go with excuses to protect their own interests. And with Seita and Setsuko in such dire straits, I was surprised the old farmer did not relent to sell some food to them. This movie held every aspect of the human mind under extreme circumstances. Wars kill all people, whether bombs drop or not. The children are the most important, and in this film it shows that even children succumb to the drastic red tape which the adults roll out without so much as a conscience. Great film, highly recommended to those who love war stories.