Tsao- Grave of the Fireflies

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In watching the Grave of the Fireflies, I think we can all agree on it being the film that brought everyone to tears. This anime takes place during the end of World War II, a time of alert where American bombers would fly by dropping bombs on neighborhoods and cities, burning large numbers of citizens. Fourteen year old Seita takes his little sister, Setsuko to hide in an old abandoned bomb shelter during an attack. Their mother, hiding in another shelter, was under attack of a bomb while they were hiding and got burned severely. Their mother has heart problems, and dies from the burns soon after Seito sees her. With nowhere else to go, the siblings leave to live with their aunt in another village. Because the aunt is so reluctant and unreasonably mean to them two, they soon decide to move out and live in the abandoned bomb shelter that they found.

Many elements add to the emotional appeal of the film. Setsuko portrays the many innocent souls that were hurt during the war; the audience is quick to fall in love with her naïve, adorable, and relationship with her brother. The touching scenes of Seito providing care to his only surviving family member and most loved sister help to develop the strong relationship that the siblings have. The fireflies, an important symbol in Japanese culture, represent both the souls of living things and mono no aware- that nothing lasts and the sense of beauty in things (since fireflies have such a short life span). The essence of the fireflies is seen in a couple scenes: when Setsuko uses them for light in the cave, burying the dead fireflies and questioning why death must be a part of life (in relation to their mother’s death), the fireflies as symbols of hope, etc. Another aspect worth mentioning in the movie is the tin of fruit drops.

The fruit drops are comforting to both Seito and Setsuko (especially Setsuko), and remind both the kids of a homey, safe, state. With the fruit drops, Setsuko is reassured and willing to keep fighting on with her brother. Eventually, the ashes are also kept in the fruit box tin, showing how important they are to him.

A story with such touching, remarkable emotions in it is a definite watch- one can really get a good sense of how war victims felt during the whole deal. Worth a watch for everyone!