(Originally written July 11, 2008)

The tragedy of this movie is summarized by the title of the film, which refers to a young girl lamenting how fireflies have to die so quickly. However, this animated film is about the death of human beings in wartime rather than fireflies. While most movies can bring tears to the eyes and bring about temporary sadness, this animated masterpiece leaves the viewer with a lasting sorrow. This film about a young man and his little sister struggling to survive in the midst of World War II is one of the strongest anti-war statements of all time. The images are simple, but they create an eerie atmosphere that allows the viewer to feel rather than see the horrors of war. The film never needs to show graphic violence because it hauntingly shows the tragedy of what happens as a result of the destruction. The opening of the film shows the main character of the film dying, making the film that much more powerful because we know his ultimate fate as we see him struggling to just get by. His young sister Setsuko is so adorable, it’s tragic to watch her suffer when all she wants is a few pieces of a candy and to see her mother. Because of its focus on two innocent, likable characters rather than politics or sentiment, Grave of the Fireflies is a stronger statement about the human condition than Ford’s The Grapes of Wrath or Spielberg’s Schindler’s List.