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''Holy ''fuck''.''
'''''Grave of the Fireflies''''' (火垂るの墓 -- ''Hotaru no Haka'') is a 1988 film directed by [[Isao Takahata]] and produced by [[Studio Ghibli]]. It was released theatrically as one-half of a double feature; the other half was ''[[My Neighbor Totoro]]''.▼
▲{{quote|''Holy ''fuck''.''|'''[http://quicksummary.tumblr.com/tagged/Grave-Of-The-Fireflies quicksummary]''' sums it up.}}
The story is based on the novella of the same name written by Nosaka Akiyuki, who based much of the plot on his own childhood in Japan during and after [[World War II]]. The story follows the trials of young Seita (Nosaka's proxy) and his little sister Setsuko; after losing both parents -- their father aboard an Imperial Navy cruiser, their mother in the Allied firebombing of Kobe -- the pair are thrust upon an aunt who resents the addition of two extra mouths who don't provide any income. After one too many tail-behind-the-leg clashes, Seita finally decides he and Setsuko can fare better on their own. [[It Gets Worse|Turns out]], [[Kill
▲''Grave of the Fireflies'' (火垂るの墓 -- ''Hotaru no Haka'') is a 1988 film directed by [[Isao Takahata]] and produced by [[Studio Ghibli]]. It was released theatrically as one-half of a double feature; the other half was ''[[My Neighbor Totoro]]''.
▲The story is based on the novella of the same name written by Nosaka Akiyuki, who based much of the plot on his own childhood in Japan during and after [[World War II]]. The story follows the trials of young Seita (Nosaka's proxy) and his little sister Setsuko; after losing both parents -- their father aboard an Imperial Navy cruiser, their mother in the Allied firebombing of Kobe -- the pair are thrust upon an aunt who resents the addition of two extra mouths who don't provide any income. After one too many tail-behind-the-leg clashes, Seita finally decides he and Setsuko can fare better on their own. [[It Gets Worse|Turns out]], [[Kill Em All|not so much]].
The film is both a powerful statement on the [[War Is Hell|cruelty of war]] and the dangers of letting pride overrule responsibility, and it specifically addresses the plight of post-war Japanese orphans (who were often neglected by both extended family and state). It is also widely regarded as one of the most heart-twisting films to ever be produced, animated or otherwise.
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Not to be confused with the 2008 film
{{tropelist}}
* [[Accidental Aesop]]: Most people who see the film take an anti-war message away from it. According to the director, that wasn't what he was going for at all.
* [[Adult Fear]]: Losing your home {{spoiler|and both your parents}}.
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* [[Break the Cutie]]: Barely even ''begins'' to describe what these two kids go through.
** {{spoiler|[[Kill the Cutie]]: Poor, poor, little Setsuko.}}
* [[Breaking the Fourth Wall]]: Seita's accusing look to the audience near the end. This was a [[You Suck]] to the Japanese youth at the time. Juvenile
* [[Cheerful Child]]: Setsuko, throughout the film. Even when she cries, Seita usually finds a way to cheer her up.
* [[Cherry Blossoms]]
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* [[Doomed Hometown]]: Kobe.
* [[Downer Ending]]: Also a [[How We Got Here|Downer Beginning.]] And a [[It Got Worse|Downer Middle]]. Can pretty much be considered a Downer ''Film''.
* [[Due to
* [[Dying Alone]]: {{spoiler|Seita}} in the opening scene.
* [[The Faceless]]: The Americans are rarely seen, and even more rarely discussed. The war itself is treated as a sort of unending natural disaster the Japanese are trying to survive.
* [[Food Porn]]: Heartbreakingly justified. There are long, lingering shots on much of the food in this movie, whether it be a bowl of soup, a jar of pickled plums, a handful of fruit drops, or a rice ball. When someone is enjoying the thing they're eating, it's made very apparent. And this makes perfect sense; when you're being rationed, when you're starving, any meal is food porn.
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* [[It Got Worse]]: As worse as it can possibly get.
* [[Kansai Regional Accent]]: As dictated by the setting. It's not meant to be funny.
* {{spoiler|[[Kill
* [[Live Action Adaptation]]: A 2005 NTV production released to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the war's end tells the story from the aunt's perspective.
* [[Memento MacGuffin]]: Averted. It seems like the ring that belonged to the children's mother will become important later on, but it's never mentioned again after the scene it appears in. The photo of his father that Seita takes from the mantle does show up later, though.
* [[Missing Mom]]: And as we later find out, {{spoiler|[[Disappeared Dad]] as well.}}
** It's implied that their dad is in the service fighting the war. {{spoiler|And considering how dark and bleak this movie is, dollars to doughnuts say he's either M.I.A., captured, or K.I.A.}}.
* [[Mood Dissonance]]: The [[Really Dead Montage]] {{spoiler|with Setsuko's spirit/shade/memory}} shown playing around the pond is bad enough. But when that's coupled with another family returning home to find literally ''everything'' intact (including the specifically mentioned old record player), and then playing a mournfully sweet rendition of ''[[Home, Sweet Home]]'', the scene becomes even more poignant.
* [[Mood Whiplash]]:
** This was paired up with ''[[My Neighbor Totoro]]'' on both films' original release. They had people walking out after ''[[My Neighbor Totoro]]'' if that was shown first, while they stayed (and enjoyed) both if ''Grave of the Fireflies'' was the first shown.
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* [[Noble Shoplifter]]: Seita, who only steals food and clothing, and only because he has no other way to survive.
** [[Justified Criminal]]:
* [[
* [[Please Don't Leave Me]]: Setsuko says this to Seita when she gets sick.
* {{spoiler|[[Posthumous Character]]: Both siblings.}}
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* [[Trademark Favorite Food]]: Setsuko's fruit drops. See [[Your Favorite]], below.
* [[War Is Hell]]: And how!
* [[Wham! Line]]: {{spoiler|"She never woke up."}}
** "September 21, 1945. {{spoiler|That's was the night I died."}} and that's the opening line.
* [[World War 2]]: The film is set in 1945 Japan, just after the U.S. firebombing of Kobe.
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