Grave of the Fireflies (Two-Disc Special Edition)
by Isao Takahata
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Actor: Akemi Yamaguchi, Ayano Shiraishi, Rhoda Chrosite, Tsutomu Tatsumi, Yoshiko ShinoharaDirector: Isao Takahata
Brand: ADV Films
Cinematographer: Nobuo Koyama
Writer: Isao Takahata
Editor: Takeshi Seyama
Producer: Ryoichi Sato
Producer: Toru Hara
Writer: Akiyuki Nosaka
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); English (Original Language)
Format: Animated, Color, Dubbed, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 89 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2009-07-07
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Section 23
DVD Reviews of Grave of the Fireflies (Two-Disc Special Edition)
DVD Review: SPOILERS: Disappointed
Summary: 1 Stars
To start, I have absolutely nothing against sad films. In fact, sometimes I'm just in the mood to watch something depressing. This movie, however, didn't make me cry. It did, however, make me feel simply miserable and dismal for the rest of the day.
I'd heard a lot of good things about the movie. I'd heard that it was heart-wrenching but beautifully told. I couldn't disagree more.
I am aware of the back-story. I am aware that it was the story of the writer and his sister. To be honest, I think this movie did a disservice to a real plight. It felt like a movie, not a real-life story to me.
Characters are the main thing I attach to in a movie. The plot can be beautiful, but if the characters fall short, it's a bomb. I couldn't attach to the characters at all. There wasn't a single character, except for possibly the mom, that I liked. I agree with an earlier review that said that most of the movie was the boy, Seita's fault. I know he was a kid, and I do agree that the aunt was at fault, as well. However, he was spoiled. He was lucky to have had a roof over his head, and yet he practically ignored his parents' sacrifice and instead acted like he owned his aunt's home. He took advantage, he was ungrateful. He knew there was a war. He knew the times were hard. He'd shown at the bombings at the beginning that he had the capacity to be more responsible. Even as a young boy, he should have done his part in his aunt's house, instead of running away. No, I didn't care for the aunt, either. However, she had two rather ungrateful children forced upon her in hard times. The boy, by running away, and stubbornly refusing to apologize and go back, killed his sister, and himself. Needlessly. I would think he would have realized that hiding in the bunker wasn't as free and fun as he'd originally thought, and gone home, but he didn't. He was too stubborn, and he got himself and his sister killed, and frankly, I know a lot of children who would have more sense.
However, even over all of this, it was the WAY the story was told which really killed it for me. There's a basic rule in storytelling that was broken multiple times throughout this film: Show, don't tell. The very beginning of the movie starts with an statement of exposition: "September 21, 1945. That was the night I died." (I've checked. It's the same in dub AND sub.) Why didn't it show the date, then show him dying, instead? Did it have to say it?
Setsuko, the sister, had an even worse use of this. Instead of Seita coming in and finding her, crying and panicking, telling her he was sorry (which actually might have made me cry), I found myself actually uttering, "really?" when it just showed he lying there, with the voice-over of "She never woke up." (Again, this is the same in the Japanese, and English, although I believe the actual Japanese dialogue is "Setsuko never woke up.") This is not good storytelling. In fact, it's downright amateur writing, which, for me, jarred me straight out of the movie. I expected something more from the sister's death. However, there was barely any emotion shown. The scene had so much potential, and it was wasted. That line alone, for me, warranted the 1 star rating. It should have been the saddest part in the film, and I felt nothing. Call me heartless, but it was the WAY it was told, not what happened, which killed it for me.
I honestly hated this movie. I don't say it often, but it's true. There was nothing to attach to, and it felt depressing for the sake of being depressing. I've never been able to say before that a movie felt like it was wallowing in its own self-pity, but that's what it felt like. It didn't give me a good cry, or leave me sad for the characters for hours or days after. It just left me drained.
---
On a side-note: To the people who are giving this movie 1 star because it's "a propaganda film" or it's "ignoring what the Japanese did", really look at what you're saying. For one, it was made in Japan. Of COURSE it's going to be sympathetic to their own side. But, moreover, this story is about CIVILIANS caught in the middle of war. It isn't a movie about a soldier giving his life bombing Pear Harbor, people. By saying that it's covering up some great evil is to ignorantly say that all people on an opposing side in a war are evil. War hurts everyone. The US didn't exactly have a clean record toward Japan, either. We dropped two atomic bombs on them. I don't care what side people are on. A story about people suffering during war is a story about human suffering, no matter where the people may happen to live. If you're going to rate a movie down, that should not be the reason. Please think before you speak. I didn't like the movie, but I don't agree with those ratings.
Description of Grave of the Fireflies (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Studio: Adv Films Release Date: 07/07/2009 Run time: 89 minutesBestsellers in DVD
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