Reviewed by: James Zhang
Ratings:
Other name(s): Hotaru no Haka
Genre(s): Drama
Year: 1988
Series Length: Movie

The US is planning to invade mainland Japan near the end of World War II, and for the people not in the army, it was a matter of either working to support it, or fighting to preserve one's life.

We follow two orphaned children as they adjust to the frantic months leading to Japan's capitulation, and see them try their best to survive in the midst of all the confusion and hardship – for life goes on regardless of circumstances, and the children are dragged along the river of life wherever it takes them.

This means food when hungry, medicine when sick, and what entertainment there is to affirm that life has a point and is worth living. Happiness in wartime can simply mean a stroll along the sea, a meal of white rice, or being carried piggyback.

There is a war of survival inside the country itself, as people scramble to preserve what assets they can and ensure their own safety and livelihood. No longer can people do things out of charity, and this means the children have to resort to theft to scrounge the basic necessities.

Few people are actually portrayed as evil though - merely asserting human desires for self-preservation. Though many innocent people may suffer as a result of decisions made by a militarist regime, we are subtly reminded that crowds cheered Japan's armaments campaign, that there is a pride in the people of their army's infallibility, and that just as the people had experienced the joys of Japan's successes, they now must bear its demise. The tragedy is the children forced to endure something they neither created nor endorsed.

In Grave of the Fireflies (GOTF), there are moments of innocence, moments of happiness, and moments of sadness… sweet dreams and a bitter reality.

GOTF appeals to raw emotions and it's not hard to see why it brings many people to tears. However, this anime is a circus performance compared to some war novels out there, in particular Erich Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front, and Willi Heinrich's Cross of Iron. The anime lacks the psychological impact of the former and the philosophical implications of the latter, so it was quite plain in comparison at times.

However, its animation is good, the story is concise, and the movie nails its message home. All in all, an effective reality-jerker that comes in handy when something really bad (failing a unit for most students) happens. People before us went through hell, while we're still very much alive and well.

This title is licensed in Australia.

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