Tragic in Tone Yet Poetic in Substance

Rating: 8/10 (13 December 2018)

Whenever people talk about some of the most tragic anti war films out there, this film in particular comes to mind a lot, and for good reason. Being one of Studio Ghibli's first features, this film was released at the wrong time as a double feature with My Neighbor Totoro (quite the mood whiplash, I know). However, while it might not have won audiences over then due to the heavy subject matter, it did go on to be seen as a landmark in both Japanese cinema and filmmaking all together. I must admit, while I myself do find this film to be as horrifically sad as others, there's no denying that it's also told through beauty and grace at the same time.
Set in Japan during the near end of WWII, the film centers on two siblings, Seita and Setsuko, and their struggle to survive on their own. What's interesting to note is that it's revealed in the very beginning that the kids have already died (as shown in red), and while that might come off as anticlimactic to some, I think it works in favor of the film's plot. Throughout the film, we see the kids desperately trying to live off little food and shelter outside of the common lands, and there is no attempt to shy away from the brutalities and consequences that could happen from that. So seeing the more tranquil points of view from the characters in the afterlife reflecting upon their tragic past helps convey that the suffering they went through is long gone, and they have made peace together. At its core, the story of Grave is emotionally tied in to its ending. Even though we know they have died, what they go through is so grim that you can only hope they'll turn out fine.
As this is an anti war film, there is a raw honesty displayed throughout the feature. Rather than glorifying any of the violence, its anti-war message is conveyed through subtlety and even the more gory moments are played out shortly. For a film about what the tragedies of war can do to people, Fireflies is much more poetic in tone than brutal. A good example of the contrast between shear beauty and graphic horror is when Seita and Setsuko are in the more urban settings, which showcase pleasant backdrops whilst displaying plenty of subtly upbeat moments. Then, once Seita and Setsuko are residing in the more rural nature areas of the country, the real horror of living in such treacherous environments show just how poorly they messed up. Grave may not be all about violence, but it sure knows how to portray the turmoils of running away from home.
As for the characters themselves, Seita is rather stuck up with his smug and rebellious attitude towards the war, but even he doesn't know what he's entirely doing, making his actions come off as naive. However, he still shows off compassion towards Setsuko, even when he makes horrible mistakes such as running away from his aunt. Speaking of Setsuko, she is one of the most emotional four year olds in film history, as while she can be a handful to take care of, she doesn't know any better and many of the circumstances that happen to her and Seita are poignantly displayed. No matter how hard Seita tries to watch over her, there's always an uncomfortable feel to how his doings affect her for the worse. Then there's the aunt, who may seem rather snobby towards the two, but she has a very fair point in how Seita should be doing better to do his part for the war. With everything that happens to Seita and Setsuko, one only wishes they would take her advice, but alas.
In addition to how beautiful the film is story wise, the animation is absolutely marvelous. The characters have a more pseudo realistic approach to their designs, along with having relatively accurate movements and features. Also, most of their outlines happen to be brown instead of traditional black, which was done to give a softer aesthetic to the feature according to color coordinator Michiyo Yasuda. I think that fits given how dark albeit poetic the film is by nature, so having a more subdued line quality creates a slicker contrast. Not to mention, the effects animation is wonderful, whether it'd be the appropriately treacherous fire and smoke coming from attacker planes or the melodious fireflies buzzing around. Along with the color scheme that can change depending on the mood of the scene (especially during the nighttime), these effects give the right amount of depth needed for an emotional rollercoaster like this.
Needless to say, Grave of the Fireflies is a beautifully tragic film that highlights what can happen to those who try to survive on their own during the war without shoving its message down the audience's throat. If you are yet to check this film out, definitely feel free to do so. It may be hard to sit through, but it will definitely give you an intriguing point of view on the innocence of childhood gone wrong. It's so rare that we see the medium of animation tackle subjects like this, because it proves how you can tell a story of this caliber through an art form that requires all the imagination in the world. So the next time you want to see a war film that really challenges your perception on war and survival, this one will have you covered.