WW2 as seen from the eyes of two innocent children...

Rating: 10/10 (7 October 2011)

'Grave of the fireflies' is a kind of movie which makes you shed tears every time you watch it, or even think about it. The brutal and in-your-face style of portraying events really makes this movie a truly heart-breaking experience.
I have never rated a movie with the whole 10 points. This was the only one. Because, no other movie has stayed with me and has twisted my heart in as many ways as GOTF did. I hadn't known about any other works of studio ghibli. But after I had seen this one, I made up my mind to check them out.
What makes this movie so disturbing is the events and the close exposure they give to very innocent and very devastating aspects of life almost simultaneously. The contrast between them is as painful as the contrast between a blinding bright light and a blood curdling darkness. The story is about the atrocities faced by a young boy, Seita and his little sister Setsuko in a village in Japan. The time is World war 2. The animation is typical-Japanese and is very effective. The story is told very well; so well that its almost impossible not to get uneasy and cry. In the 90 minute length of this movie, not even a minute goes by without making you fear and hate war, the most dehumanizing act we humans commit.
Watch this movie and understand how bad and how fragile life can get and how hard, how stupidly and sincerely our love and hope keep fighting for survival. Interpret this movie in any way you want. I'm sure it will not be so pleasant.
Simply, a must-watch. It deserves to stand in the history of movie-making along with other classic war movies like Schindler's list, though they are both different and effctive in their own way.