A poignant tale depicting the harrowing events of war-torn Japan during World War II

Rating: 8/10 (29 June 2014)

Perhaps for the first time, I watched such a heart wrenching, realistic and poignant tale in an animated movie. The movie charts the tale of a 14 year old brother and his 4 year old sister who are left alone to fend for themselves in war torn Japan. Their mother fell victim to the air bombings which leaves them to shift to their aunt. Slowly the two face the wrath of the war and succumb to malnutrition. Perhaps there is not such distress as of dying of hunger. And the film brings this to the screen, which makes this film just distressing and grim, which you won't dare to go through again.
A film that starts on a light note with an undying love and affection of a brother towards his sister ends up with the struggle for survival during wartime where the only motive becomes fulfilling the hunger. The story unfolds vividly in the picture just making you cry. Perhaps this demonstrates the power of the movie to sweep you along. Before this, I felt 'The Pianist" was able to do the same. Besides, the fabulous animation which you can expect from Japanese animes, there is a tremendously moving story to the film which would make it memorable. Well, most of the Disney and Pixar animations have made you laugh all the way, this movie has a power to make you cry.
Rating:: 3 stars out of 4