An epic, emotional film everyone should see, if only once

Rating: 8/10 (16 January 2011)

While I'm anything but macho, I have yet to cry at any film. I came close with this one. It is brilliantly orchestrated tragedy based around a brother and a sister trying to survive in war-torn Japan. The whole film is basically a struggle for them as they lose their parents, then they leave their oppressive aunt and stay in on old bomb shelter begging, borrowing and stealing to stay alive. The animation, as in any Studio Ghibli film, is fantastic, the beauty of it reflecting that of the deep but playful relationship between the brother and sister.
Here's the tragic part and the spoiler- the brother ventures into town to buy his sister, who at this point is at death's door due to malnutrition, leaving her in the shelter. He comes back to her and excitedly starts to unpack the food telling her of all the stuff he's got and how things will be better from now on. As he places a fruit drop- his sister's favourite sweet in her mouth, she utter's her last words, "thank you" and then dies. I probably haven't sold it with this description but this moment is heart-wrenching.
There are a couple of flaws- firstly i never understood why the brother didn't immediately go into town to get food and save his sister from dying? Secondly, we are told right from the first scene, which is the last scene, a trick of Tarantino's, that the brother also dies. Why did we need to know that? And lastly, the reaction of the townspeople to the sister's death is all too cavalier- "need some coal to burn your sister's body? Here you go, have a nice day!" But that's nit-picking. It's an amazing film which you should check out, if only once- no real rewatch value there.