Sad and depressing in the most beautiful way possible

Rating: 9/10 (20 April 2014)

Saw this film recently, after only just discovering the amazing Studio Gibli, and looking for new films to share with my Younger sibling, but I am glad I watched this one alone, I couldn't put a young child through that.
I had my doubts whether to watch it at all, as from a very vague synopsis I understood this would be a sad war time film... no the kind of animated movie people would pick to watch, but in respect for the art and beauty of the studio i watched it myself. I suspected sadness but ultimately a heart warming type of film, i never imagined how sad, realistic and emotionally draining this film would be. Their struggles are so far away from anything I could ever imagine in this day and age, with nobody to turn to, its just painful to watch their plight unfold and ultimately end their lives. But while it shows this pain and horror, its a beautiful movie that protests war and opens eyes to the truth of all those affected by war in every little way.
One thing I will suggest, to others who have already seen it and may be very shook up... Watch the beginning again. It didn't really make a lot of sense to me the first time i watched it, but i watched the intro again, and its almost like a hidden happy ending where you finally see the two siblings reunited, with plenty of the fruit drops, their one and only source of happiness.