"Grave of the Fireflies" Isao Takahata's brilliant artisty ponders Historical fates and the fragility of human existence.

Rating: 9/10 (9 June 2019)

Brilliant though terribly heartrending and sorrowful film from genuine artist/animation-master Isao Takahata. Reflecting & ruminating on the devastating tale of young siblings Setsuko and Seita, who are desperately trying to find their way (and literally simply trying to survive moment-by-moment) in the frighteningly nightmarish and exceedingly perilous environment/ aftermath of the relentless fire-bombing of Kobe Japan during the latter part of WWII (circa March 1945).
This is an important story (originally presented in novel form in the late-1960s by Akiyuki Nosaka). Isao Takahata's visually haunting animation adds many layers of depth to the harrowing tale of Setsuko and Seita as they traverse the ruthless gauntlet akin to a test-of-survival among the literal 'ruins' with little to no food or clean-water or shelter available (after their mother dies, and living in their aunt's home with dwindling resources & resentment becomes unbearable).
As with many Japanese works as the Story progresses and Setsuko and Seita's prospects for simple survival grow very dim = an atmosphere of fatalistic-melancholy tempered by a bit of spiritual-resignation begins to arise (with the 'fireflies' of the title playing a crucial-role). Takahata's hauntingly-desolate aesthetic evokes tremendous sorrow but there is also an 'other-worldliness' distinctly present at times (as though we getting a brief glimpse into a hidden-spiritual realm)
This is an intensely sorrowful tale (almost unbearable at times) - but it delves into dramatic territory that forces the viewer to ruminate on subject-matter that we often rather avoid in our modern 'safe & secure' developed World = i.e. just how fragile our mortal existence really is = Historical circumstances of War & fate turning 'security' into disaster on a dime with the last strands of family desperately grasping for Life itself. "Grave of the Fireflies" forces us to not turn away.