Grave of the Fireflies: Difference between revisions

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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]].

 

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}}.

* [[Break the Cutie]]: Barely even ''begins'' to describe what these two kids go through.

** {{spoiler|[[Kill the Cutie]]: Poor, poor, little Setsuko.}}

* [[Cheerful Child]]: Setsuko, throughout the film. Even when she cries, Seita usually finds a way to cheer her up.

* [[Cherry Blossoms]]

* [[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''.

* [[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.

* [[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 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.

* [[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.}}

* [[Trademark Favorite Food]]: Setsuko's fruit drops. See [[Your Favorite]], below.

* [[War Is Hell]]: And how!

** "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.

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Roger Ebert Great Movies List]]

[[Category:Anime]]

[[Category:Films of the 1980s]]

[[Category:Studio Ghibli]]