The feeling this movie gives you is almost unbearable. A must watch.

Rating: Null/10 (28 January 2015)

I'm still trying to pull myself together after finishing this movie 10 minutes ago.
Wow, just wow. The feeling of despair I encountered watching this movie will certainly change the way I see things day to day. After the first 5 minutes I exited out of my browser and had to collect the courage to return to the movie after reading some comments. My outlook on war was negative to begin with, but this movie just made my stomach turn in ways that has never happened before.
Seita could have been me. I have a 5 year old sister in the room next to me, and much to my tearful demise she acts just like setsuko. This review contains no spoilers, just an explanation from my soul. The anime turned me off at the beginning, but grew on me as the music and picture seemed to flow seamlessly. The aunt in my opinion was not a villain, she was desperate too as anyone would be in that war situation. Food was scarce, bodies lay in streets, raids were carried out daily, and death was becoming an everyday encounter.
The only somewhat happy scenes in this anime were when the two were playing by the beach and by the shelter. The saddest part of the film, for me, was when setsuko reveals that she knew the truth about her mother to seita. Just something about a 4-5 year old girl who had already lost everything say so calm that her mother was dead in a grave makes it almost impossible to hold back tears. The ending of this movie was the only consolation for me. Knowing that she didn't have to suffer anymore and that she could be reunited with her family was one of the only moments of this movie that I could smile.
This movie is a must watch. It may be the most depressing thing you do and you may cry and you may wish you could help but just sit and watch the movie. Do it alone because your emotion will pour out, its impossible not to cry and if you don't then you need help. Tonight I will pray for all war victims like these two. Their love towards each other is not a fictional plot in some regular anime. That sort of kindness and selflessness is felt in my heart and in the hearts of everyone watching and THAT is true art. Rest in peace to the helpless souls who's last days were in that hell. I hope the life that came after offers you the happiness and plentiful feasts that you deserve.