I can never watch this film again. It is just too hard. Just thinking about it makes me cry. But with all the things going on right now, it really needs to be watched.
I watched this movie awhile back with my grandmother who was a child during WW2. She lost both of her parents and baby brother during an air bombing. She had to survive on her own until her adoptive parents saved her. She held on to me while we were both in tears. She has since passed but I can never forget the pure devastation I felt for her and the characters on screen. I haven’t been able to watch the film since. But this review made me remember and respect this film for being a real and honest example of how that war affected so many and touches so my hearts. Thank you
War is horrible, this story is focusing on Japan children, and I believE is an anti-war film. and a critic to Imperial Japan and their belligerence. But let's never forget the thousands of children who suffered the same during WW2 many of them victims of Imperial Japan brutality.
@@itsybitsy999 Clearly, but if Post War Germany would have produced a film about the hardships of war of German Children caused by the Allies attacks and bombings would seem a little disingenuous knowing what we know the Reich did to the Jews Children themselves.
I think the last scene with their ghosts watching over the citylights is meant as the city is the grave of fireflies. Dead fireflies were all the innocent people who were lost in the war and the cities a grave built over their deaths.
Cinema Therapy said in a way that made a lot of sense to me. Much like how many Miyazaki films explore the idea of childhood and how it eventually comes to an end, Fireflies is that same message for Japan as a whole. Japan can never be what it was and it had to accept that and move into a new era. It’s a memoriam to the countless young lives lost in the war and the loss of innocence for both the main characters and Japan overall.
Its had to have been around 10 years since ive watched this movie, i dont remember it well but i do remember i thought it was very good, sad and i dont want to watch it again becuase of that. I put it in the same realm as Requiem For a Dream for those who have watched that movie..... very good, heart breaking and i have not watched that again since the first time i sat thru it 20 years ago lol.
This was the last movie I watched with my grandmother a few years back. She grew up outside of Hiroshima during the war as young girl and saw the mushroom cloud from Little Boy. She died last year, and this movie is now a lot more special to me, especially now that I am a father. Thanks for the review, Chris. I’ve been waiting on this one from you for a while.
When the credits rolled to this movie, I just kinda sat and stared, tears pouring out. Then immediately after it ended I got an ad for Minions 2: The Rise of Gru and I threw up in my mouth
It helps to take you out of that place though. Don't dwell there. Life can be very disturbing, we need Mininons 2 because these types of films are very powerful.
The thing that really stuck out for me for this movie were the scenes where you see Saita and Setsuko struggling, having lost everything only for the movie to cut away to a wealthy family nearby musing about how little things changed for them.
Same here. What an impact. Was my first introduction to the idea that a cartoon can be for grown ups and watched it with reluctance. Next day I was searching for more.
This was one of the most difficult to watch movies I have ever seen. I was at a very low point in my life. Family troubles and life problems were keeping me from seeing my daughter, who was very young at the time. I was also in a position at my work place that required me to basically never show much emotion, and to always be stern. That's when I came across this film. Someone decided it would be a good idea to have a movie night featuring this movie. Needless to say, I had to excuse myself from the area and compose a few times. Later in life, I'm happy to say that things got better. I went out and bought a copy as soon as I was able. I have had it on my shelf now for years. And it will never be unwrapped or watched again. It's a good reminder to be greatful of what I have now.
03:55 Exactly! I was 8 when my mom took me to the theater to see the double feature. We saw Grave of the Fireflies first, were completely destroyed and couldn’t stay to see Totoro😭 But now that I’m in my 40s, I feel so blessed that I’ve experienced this gem in 35mm film at a cinema. Sending love and support from Japan. Thanks for enjoying Studio Ghibli❤️
I think that having those two screened together actually is a great choice-albeit unintentionally. We get to see both the devestation of wwII on japan, but also the renewal. Setsuko and Seita die, but from the horrors of war, new life springs forth. I find it fitting to have them screened together as a reminder of how life, while impermanent and often times cruel meaningless and unfair, will persist
Having seen Totoro… parts of that hit way differently if you’ve seen Grave. Young child got lost? Well… if you watched Grave first, that hits way differently because you know how it really might end.
I remember watching this late night one night and I couldn't stop crying till the morning. All those images of the sister playing alone just stamped on my heart and mind. Even watching this video makes me tear up uncontrollably. A masterpiece that will absolutely break you
This is by far my favourite Ghibli Film. And that early scene outside the hospital after the brother realizes that their mother is dead. The little girl is squatting and crying while her brother is sitting furthur back, so the little sister looks even larger on the screen, they are each looking in different directions and then suddently he starts swinging from a bar to cheer up his little sister. That is probably the most striking image I have seen in any film ever.
True story, in my undergrad my Modern Japan class was discussing ww2 era Japan and its rebuilding in the 1950s, but it kinda seemed like all the students were more interested in the war sections previously. I emailed the professor on a whim asking to show Grave of the Fireflies, as a representative of the Anime & Japanese Culture Club, and she thought it was a great idea since she'd apparently seen it, too. She made it extra credit, and I'm sure we can all imagine how things went. Thanks for covering this beautiful movie~ (also, wtf Totoro, really?)
This movie horrified me. One of the finest pieces of art out there. A gutwrenching tragedy. Made me cry sooo fucking much. And we are still inflicting so many wars in so many countries. This movie is a reality for so many actual small children of Gaza and Ukraine and many other countries.
@@A_UA-cam_Commenter Correct, during WW2 many French, British, Philippine and Chinese kids suffered and perished because of the German and Japanese aggressions... There is no victors during a war...only victims.
He had really good tastes in stories to adapt and was extremely flexible--rather than fitting a story to his style (as, say, Miyazaki does), he would adapt his style to fit what the story called for. Grave was hyper-realistic, even with the narrative conceit of the ghosts (an extension of Nosaka's structure for the novella, which mimicked a bunraku tragedy); Pom Poko more or less mimicked Miyazaki's style (he wrote the story if I remember right); Only Yesterday was a different kind of realism than Grave, with flashbacks being portrayed in an almost dreamlike fog while the modern sections were more solid and tangible; My Neibor the Yamadas mimicked the highly stylized character designs and world of the 4-koma gag comic it was based on, and Tale of Princess Kaguya constantly shifts animation styles to mimic a dream-like fairy tale. And that's not even getting into his various series (Anne of Green Gables, Chie the Brat) and earlier movies like the seminal Horus, Prince of the Sun, or the Panda Ko Panda shorts. He was truly a chameleon of a director.
Grave of Fireflies wasn't a movie; it was an emotional tidal wave that crashed into my soul, leaving me breathless and shattered on the shore. From the opening scene, a haunting premonition, a lump settled in my throat, refusing to budge. As Seita and Setsuko's story unfolded, it wasn't just a narrative; it was a gut punch delivered with the tenderness of a butterfly's kiss. Their innocence, their unwavering love for each other, their resilience in the face of unimaginable hardship - it all felt searingly real. I laughed with them at the fireflies' ethereal glow, my heart swelling with a joy soon to be ripped away. The animation, deceptively simple yet achingly beautiful, mirrored the stark simplicity of their war-torn world, where survival was a constant, brutal struggle. The scenes that truly broke me were painted not with grand tragedy, but with the quiet desperation of everyday life. Seita's desperate attempts to provide for Setsuko, his heartbreaking apology for selling their mother's kimono, Setsuko's childish optimism even as starvation gnawed at her - these were the moments that pierced through every emotional defense I had built. Tears streamed down my face, blurring the screen as I witnessed their descent into despair. The hunger, the sickness, the utter helplessness - it felt like an assault on my humanity. And yet, even in the darkest moments, their love flickered like a dying ember, refusing to be extinguished. The ending, oh, the ending. It wasn't just sad; it was a desolate wasteland of grief. Setsuko's final words, a whisper of "Seita-kun," echoed in my mind long after the credits rolled. The emptiness it left behind was profound, a void filled only with the lingering ache of their loss. Grave of Fireflies is not just a movie; it's an experience. It's a searing indictment of war, a poignant testament to the enduring power of love, and a heartbreaking reminder of the fragility of life. It's a film that will stay with you long after the tears have dried, a poignant scar etched on your soul. So, yes, you will cry. You will sob. But through the tears, you will see the beauty of humanity, the strength of love, and the importance of cherishing every precious moment. And that, perhaps, is the true power of this unforgettable film. Remember, tissues are highly recommended. You've been warned
I know a lot of people only think of Hayao Miyazaki when Studio Ghibli is brought up, but man, Isao Takahata, Grave of the Fireflies and The Tale of Princess Kaguya, also has some masterpieces in his career. Btw, please make a feature presentation of Barefoot Gen. I liked that you've mentioned that film, very underrated and also hard to watch as well. Before Barbenhimer: we had Grave of Totoro
This movie is basically the Schindler's List of Studio Ghibli, not my personal favorite but definitely is one of the most impactful movies I've seen twice. That said, I'm loving this segment of yours, keep making more of these.
Barefoot Gen is perhaps in my top 3 most traumatizing experiences I’ve ever had while watching a movie. Both that and Grave of the Fireflies are difficult watches but Barefoot Gen’s imagery will haunt you for the rest of your life!
I've genuinely never heard of it before now, so will need to check it out. But I might wait til I'm feeling a bit emotionally stronger if it's GotF level of despairing bleakness...
I watched this when I was 17 back in 1997, not knowing what it was -- but there was nothing else on. By the end, I was in absolute shambles and cried the ugliest cry I had ever cried in my life. Absolutely devastating and a masterpiece.
Why?!😢 I remember getting ready for a frat party a couple of years ago and was excited to go out. I put this film on while I was getting ready (it was given to me and I had never seen it). I could not bring myself to go to that party. That weekend was lost, not in a bad way, just in a way where I felt so bad for what happened to these kids that it got me thinking of others and their well being. I’m a parent now of 2 girls (3yo and a 6 month old) I can’t bring myself to see this now, but I think this is one of the greatest films ever created. Very powerful. And now @7:29 I’m starting to tear up listening to Chris talk about it now that he is a dad.
Im 18 and my sister is 5 She is exactly like Setsuko both in looks and behaviour Cant stop imagining the same scenario whatever happened to Setsuko I just keep imagining that she..... And I cant even do anything except beating my head to the wall and crying I feel so angry towards the stupid war planes
I watched this like 20 years ago by myself. After it ended, I sat there quietly...and I cant stop crying. I watched it again a second time with my family. After the watch, we all sat there quietly. All bawling. This and Hachi are the only two movies that made me cry like that.
One of the aspects of this film that I hardly ever see people talk about is that Seita's pride is ultimately what kills the two of them. As awful as their aunt was, both of them would have survived if Seita had just swallowed his pride and stayed. If the film had been solely about the death of the children, it would still be good, but the added dimension of condemnation of pride really is what elevates it to a great film for me. In fact, the greatest film.
The funny thing is that Seita's pride being a flaw is actually more of a Western perspective. His decision to not stay with their aunt was supposedly considered to be reasonable by Japanese audiences at the time.
This is a flawed interpretation, IMHO. Seita was 11 years old, still very much a child, and should never have been put in that situation. Of course the decision he made was flawed--he was 11. He was just as much a victim as Setsouko. The bitch aunt was the adult there, and the one who bears responsibility for what happened.
@@plucas1 He was 14, for starters. Their aunt was absolutely in the wrong; I don't mean to deny that. However, while it is an extremely believable decision for a 14 year old raised in a culture of national and personal pride to make, it is still the decision that got them both killed.
Yes, that's what I remember too. I remember myself almost screaming at the screen - what the fuck are you doing, if you're so fucking self-entitled then leave the sister where she can be fed and cared for, go fucking work, you're a big boy already
@@austinuhr8459 That's just like the European, an outsider/foreigner prescribing a culture instead of describing, vacillating from the same axiomatic principles they want want everyone else to adhere.
After you announced that you were reviewing this movie I finally decided to watch it after it being in my watchlist for a very long time. What an absolute masterpiece it is. Devastating but also truly beautiful. Instant 5 star movie from me.
Indeed, one of the most important movies ever made and I absolutely believe that every human being in the world should see it at least once. When I saw it the first time, I wasn't even able to cry at the end, I was so completely destroyed, I just sat there for I don't know how long and wasn't able to move. One of the things that devastated me the most is that her last words to her brother are actually "thank you Seita" 😭
I'm from Indonesia. Thank you very much for this review. I'll honestly admit, there are not so many movies out there that truly portrays the harsh reality in life. But you'll probably never ever expect that this *animated* movie is probably one of the very rare few movies (of all time) that really shows the 'realest' reality, which certainly have also happened in the real world/real life (eg: wars, death, grief, tragedy, etc2). This not those typical 'heroic action' war movies that most people usually like to watch just for the sake of entertainment. No, this IS reality, as depressing as it can happen in the real world. And also the fact it's actually coming from the usual 'fun, imaginative, dreamy' Studio Ghibli, is even much more surprising, contrasting, shocking, yet also, like you've said very well in the video, makes this to be one of the most *important* Ghibli movie, with its *real* messages. It really makes you deeply reflect on the harsh reality of our world, life, & existence.
It is an amazing, haunting and important movie. I also read the semi-autobiographical book the movie is based on and it says in the end, that only a few days after Seita died, a law was passed that would ensure that all orphans of the war would have been taken care of. And although the characters in the movie and the book are fictional it was a gruesome reality and hundreds of children died before people started caring and the government would make sure that they were taken care of. Regarding the double-Feature with Totoro. I heard somewhere that Totoro was planned to be shown after that movie and Totoro being a very slow and pieceful movie especially at the beginnjng, was meant to also give people a little breather after this juggernaut of an emotional movie.
It’s amazing to see your transformation since you have become a father listening to your reviews. It’s all right there you’re a different person. Been watching you for years. Love what you do and thank you
The story was originally a short story written by Akiyuki Nosaka as an apology letter to his little sister who had died during WWII same way as Setsuko via malnutrition. He was Seita that couldn't protect his Setsuko n his character dying in the story is a metaphorical suicide because of his survivor's guilt.
It was a story of who he should have been as an older brother, not who he was. That he dies as well in “this is what I should have done” is typical survivor guilt.
I saw this movie with my younger sister years ago and it just crushed me. It's a masterpiece that I rarely can recommend to anyone. I think the fact that they are "drawings" is what makes it more real, in live action films you can tell yourself at some point that it's all actors and sets, in animated films like this you see the life of the characters as real people in their own real world and never outside of it, the fact that it isn't a fantasy story but set in a place and time that actually existed just adds another layer of reasons to cry and think. I even cried again just watching this review, definitely don't think I can go through another rewatch. Thanks for the review.
This movie is a masterpiece, and it's a story that could happen in any country because of war. I want everyone all over the world to see it, even if they're not interested in Japan. By the way, this movie was shown in a set with My Neighbor Totoro. Setsuko and Satsuki are the same age. Imagine how shocked the Japanese people were to see these movies back to back at the cinema in 1988. they were too shocked to stand up from the seat.
First time here. Thanks for the review. There are few kinds of people with certain memories of their life past that will be super susceptible to this movie. Victims of war, parents, grown up children who lost their parents would be some of them. I am a father of two kids and someone who lost both of my parents due to tragedy. I watched this film by accident. It was to be my first contact with the works of Ghibli studio . I don't know why I chose exactly this one. In doing so, I sealed my fate as someone who was absolutely and completely moved by the image I saw. The film shook me profoundly, made my heart break into thousands of pieces, each one being a fragment of my past that resonated idly with the content of this beautiful and moving film. I'm 48 years old, I've seen a lot in my life, I've seen many movies, but none in my life has moved me as deeply as Greave Of The Fireflies. Today I know that this masterpiece will forever remain the most beautiful and sad and at the same time the most personal I have ever seen in my life.
I tried watching this video with my bf. He saw the movie back when it was released. He was a teenager back then. He left the room because even just seeing back of the movie in your review made him cried. I gave him a hug and watched the rest on my phone.😢😢
I'm 31 yrs old. I've been a fan of Studio Ghibli since my middle school years. I've always wanted to see this movie. I knew it would be sad, but Studio Ghibli movies are so profound so I knew it'd be worth the watch. Tonight, I finally watched this film on Netflix. I'm also a new, first time mom. My 3 month old was asleep on my lap during the entire film. My husband had fallen alseep and left me hanging (we werd supposed to suffer through this together!) Omg, I held my daughter so tight while I was watching this movie... it was so haunting and tragic. Idk if I could ever sit through this again. I didn't cry but my heart silently broke into a million pieces. All I could do was cling to my daughter, too afraid of the thought of ever letting her go....
First encountered this animé 9 years ago. By far the saddest movie I have ever seen in my life. It starts out sad and continuously increases in tragedy. And like most of us, I watch a lot of tough movies, but this one was haunting! And the fact that the novel + the film are autobiographical, based on Akiyuki Nosaka own life, as well as that of countless Japanese children is more than just a sobering reality! The "can't take your eyes away" effect is so true, perhaps even more so to US Americans, to whom the realities of war are a telegram (since wars always take place abroad from an American point of view). I'm German and only 29, so it's not like I have, but I know the stories of my grandparents' generation about ... you know, grandma's sister having to swim across the river with food stolen from the enemy's tents. And your childhood dog getting choked to death on purpose because she could bark and give your hiding place away. And then the constant gang rape during the relocation of the dispossessed, etc., etc.
The word for firefly is written as '蛍' in kanji, but in this movie, the same sound is represented with different characters, '火垂る'. '火' represents fire, and '垂' represents dripping or falling. In essence, this is also a metaphor for incendiary bombs.
3:20 It's flakes of solidified sugar water. If you remember, the sister wanted one of the candies, but the can had run out of it, so the brother put some water in it to melt the remaining crumbs to make something sweet for her.
A brilliant and amazing movie that you can only watch once. Once is enough in this lifetime. For me, I couldn't even cry to it. It just felt so numbing and hollow. Like all the light in the world disappeared and there was just a void. Already at the beginning, you knew the outcome. And the sensation of grief is just there throughout. You can't cry, you can't mourn. You just wait for the inevitable. Just for Seita to be reunited with Setsuko again and I think that is what makes it even sadder. Is when you can't cry. You just wait for how they both pass away.
This is a movie I watched once as a young adult and I still can't bare the thought of rewatching it. There are several devastating scenes that have burned into my brain that I can still remember years later.
I have 2 little sister that I care for deeply. To imagine those scenarios happening to either one of them, I don’t even want to imagine the pain I would feel. Hug your loved ones closely. Because I sure as shit did when I saw the movie the second time. I don’t cry a lot in movies but the one scene that broke me was the bit where the little girl is playing alone while a new family gets a new big house across the water. That slow transition from the house to the little girl dying caused me to have tears of pain. That is a type of pain that I don’t ever want to feel again. And that I hope that other people don’t have to feel that. This movie needs to be seen at least once.
Im 18 and my sister is 5 She is exactly like Setsuko in both looks and behaviour Cant stop imagining the same scenario whatever happened to Setsuko I just keep imagining that she..... And I cant even do anything except beating my head to the wall and crying
Im 18 and my sister is 5 She exactly looks and behaves like Setsuko Cant stop imagining the same scenario whatever happened to Setsuko Specially with the threat of WW3 I just keep imagining that she..... And I cant even do anything except beating my head to the wall and crying
This is located in Kobe city where I was born and raised. You can tell that by their dialect and the piller that the brother was leaning over when he was dying at the opening scene. The piller at Kobe station was very distinct so if you have been there you can tell where it happened even though you are a child. Yes I was one of those children who went there to watch Totoro. Imagine how much impact you would get by it. Watching two kids speaking in your own dialect trying to live together in your own neighborhood. (And you are told that it's based on a true story!) Right after the credit started, I looked up my dad next to me and cried out, that relief.. I would never forget that. I'm glad that I was there though.
@ I think it's ordinary drops in a good way. Made from natural ingredients so nothing harsh or unique. I loved when I was a child. Unfortunately Sakuma drops had to be discontinued in 2021 because of the pandemic. The company still make IP limited editions sometimes, so maybe you can access those? I hope you can enjoy them
Such a masterpiece. My wife and I watched this and lost lots of liquid through the eyes. I watched it on my own after and nothing changed. It’s still sad. Devastating. Great. Mesmerizing. Still a masterpiece.
Really hits hard as a father of 2 young kids. What makes it sadder is that the author of the book actually lived through this and lost his young sister to malnutrition during the war while taking care of her.
Man... just thinking about it is enough to make you cry, it definitely is the saddest movie that's ever been. It's beautiful, a must watch, even though you know you'll just watch it once, it's too strong to do it again
I watched this film with my Ghibli-loving 12-year-old daughter a few years ago. It was the first time for both of us, and we were both in tears at the end. We haven't seen it since, but occasionally we will have great conversations about it.
My father was born and raised in Kobe, the setting of this movie, in 1935. So he experienced the same thing as this movie. After the war, everyone had no food and it was hard to survive, and many people were malnourished, but they continued to live their lives. I heard stories like this movie from my father. When war breaks out, it is children who are the biggest victims. I would like world leaders to see this movie.
This film was inspired by a semi-autobiographical short story written by Akiyuki Nosaka. It is very interesting to hear his take on who the true villain of the story is and it's plain to see the kind of guilt he lived with throughout his life in the post WW2 era.
You were so on point when you said that its really hard to watch now that you're a father. I have a 2 year old daughter and it pains me to see a little girl suffer. Man this movie is special.
Chris has great instincts about the wordplay in the title! Let me explain: The Japanese title of Grave of the Fireflies is 火垂る の 墓 (Hotaru no Haka) "Hotaru" means "Firefly" and "Haka" means "Grave" BUT... "Hotaru" is normally written just like this: 蛍 , NOT like this: 火垂る 火 (ho) means "fire." 垂る (taru) means "to drip/to drop" So... while 火垂る (hotaru) sounds like the word for "firefly" it's actually a homophone, referencing fire bombs.
It is such a treat to have you talk about this movie. I think i can name maybe 5-6 films that left me absolutely numb after watching- this might take the top spot. The range of what anime can do is incredible, and I am so thankful to be a fan of this genre.
It's insane that there actually are people today living in a worse nightmare than the characters in this film. And that we are watching it unfold live every day. May God have mercy on the people of Gaza.
No need for comparison. Any children suffering anywhere around the world for any reason, at any tme, is always the worst. In Ukraine children are suffering because of adults hubris, greed, and hateful hearts, same in Palestine. None of it’s okay.
@@kailovi yeah still the people that the U.S. attacks (including the people in gaza now), especially in that period at the end of and after ww2, lived in a unique struggle. My family in syria and in iraq lived through the same thing too. This movie captures that very accurately
@@ljyljy88 many people around the globe are suffering like that too, including in Yemen, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, the Uyghers, etc. But of course none even close to the degree of horror that is inflicted in the ongoing genocide in Gaza. It has surpassed even WW2 levels of inhumanity. This is why I mentioned that.
I had lived for maybe a year or so in the same area where the movie takes place before I saw it for the first time. I remember a point during viewing the film when I recognized the shape of the mountains in the background very distinctly. I’ve personally heard firsthand stories from victims who were children at the time of these bombings, but there was something about seeing the same mountains that made it so real.
oh Chris, I wasn't sure if I should watch this video... I am sobbing at minute 3:23 of your video... this movie broke my heart and found a beautiful place in it. I recorded it once upon a time on in my teens on VHS to show everyone this masterpiece... Not able to rewatch it.
LOVING this new segment, your channel has become such a special place for young filmmakers and film enthusiasts. Btw the Madame Web video was great, I don't get the hate.
The scene where Setsuko is hallucinating and starts eating the stones is the moment when the floodgates were let out for me. Never stopped from then on
My world history teacher showed my class this film, once the film was over everyone was in complete silence and not a dry eye in the class. True story. This is one of the most depressing and saddest films ever. A masterpiece.
I watched this masterpiece for the first time 20 years ago and I don't think I've ever recovered fully from it 😭 I was discovering and diving in to Studio Ghibli at the time, I was not expecting a movie like this.
Glad you're just continuing on without responding to people like AngryJoe saying you lost credibility for not bashing Madame Web. I don't know where these people go the idea you were defending the film to protect your career. You literally said at the start of that video that you wouldn't bash the film but dissect how studios like Sony are ruining the superhero genre. How would criticizing Sony help your career? You made a lot of important points that these low attention spans missed.
Man, when Chris talked about his daughter, thats the same thought i had while watching this film, but in my case, having a little sister, the connection hit even deeper. That's why this film is so special for me. I have only watched it twice, and want to watch it again, just to remind myself about what matters to me in my life.
One of the earliest Studio Ghibli film and THE GREATEST film they've ever crafted even to this day partially due to its grounded, believable, grim yet still beautiful theme and how masterfully they pull off each and every one of its story beats without flaw. This film is just an all around Masterpiece. I've never had any animated movie that made me cry, but this was the first one to do it. There's just no other film like it.
Thank you so much for talking about this film!!! I loved hearing your thoughts man. I completely respect only watching this maybe once or twice. I actually view it somewhat often as a humbling reminder of just how precious moments in time truly are. 🙏🏻🖤 Definitely the best Ghibli film 🙌🏻 Ps. Thanks for the Barefoot Gen recommendation, I’ll have to check that one out!
I watched this movie with my brother and mother back in 2021 during pandemic, both of them towards the end were trying their best to control their tears and so was I , they were successful but I was not I cried like a giant baby , I cried so hard never cried like that in years my mother quickly turned off the tv and condoled me quickly but man it was such a painful process it felt so bad my heart was aching and I am a grown ass 6ft bearded dude. I love this movie and I want this to be shown in schools to teach little children early on the devastation war brings upon the people of the nation it's difficult to watch but an extremely important film
There are no Japanese people who watch this movie and feel bad about the United States or the B-29 bomber. Because it's not a movie about that. I believe that what this film expresses is the gradual loss of humanity in extreme conditions. From elderly Japanese people
When I watched this as a really young child in the theater I just thought it was boring, but watching it again as an adult who already experience losses, it hits really hard. Even watching you talking about it still hits me hard.
Imagine what the Israeli kids are going through growing up with bombs being fired on them on a daily basis. Poor gaza children raised to hate and kill. Be sorry for those who want peice not those who chant death to jews.
I thought I am ready to watch this movie again but the fact that I was crying the whole 10 min Stuckmann was talking shows that I need to wait a few more years…
" "Grave of the Fireflies" is a 1967 semi-autobiographical short story by Japanese author Akiyuki Nosaka. It is based on his experiences before, during, and after the firebombing of Kobe in 1945. One of his sisters died as the result of sickness, his adoptive father died during the firebombing proper, and his younger adoptive sister Keiko died of malnutrition in Fukui. It was written as a personal apology to Keiko, regarding her death. "
I’ve seen it twice… once alone and once with my mom after she saw me bawling my eyes out after the first time. I just love Isao Takahata. Nobody talks about only yesterday… both made me cry but for different reasons
Two parts of the film that are more shocking when you think about it: 1. In the opening scene, what falls off the rusty candy drops tin is a bone fragment, already telling the audience that the tin contains Setsuko's ashes. 2. In the whole time Seita tries to keep their mother's death a secret from Setsuko, he only finds out that their aunt flat out told her during the scene where she buries the fireflies. Also, the Sakuma Confectionery Company, which made the candy drops featured in the film, closed its doors on January 20, 2023.
Fun fact: Isao Takahata maintains that he never intended to make audiences cry or make the story feel tragic. He supposedly revealed the death of the siblings at the beginning to save the audience from heartbreak. But all it did was make us feel the inevitability of their impending deaths.
One of the greatest films I’ll never rewatch.
Same with me
The movie leave me with completely sadness and an unseating feeling for 3 straight days
same same, for sure.
Grave, Come & See & Schindler's List. Three masterpieces I'll never watch again.
Beat me to it
I can never watch this film again. It is just too hard. Just thinking about it makes me cry. But with all the things going on right now, it really needs to be watched.
I watched this movie awhile back with my grandmother who was a child during WW2. She lost both of her parents and baby brother during an air bombing. She had to survive on her own until her adoptive parents saved her. She held on to me while we were both in tears. She has since passed but I can never forget the pure devastation I felt for her and the characters on screen. I haven’t been able to watch the film since. But this review made me remember and respect this film for being a real and honest example of how that war affected so many and touches so my hearts. Thank you
War is horrible, this story is focusing on Japan children, and I believE is an anti-war film. and a critic to Imperial Japan and their belligerence. But let's never forget the thousands of children who suffered the same during WW2 many of them victims of Imperial Japan brutality.
@@Artemise7799-cg8pg The suffering of innocents in war, on either side, is tragic. We don't need to qualify it.
@@itsybitsy999 Clearly, but if Post War Germany would have produced a film about the hardships of war of German Children caused by the Allies attacks and bombings would seem a little disingenuous knowing what we know the Reich did to the Jews Children themselves.
You and your Grandmother were blessed to share that experience together.
@@Artemise7799-cg8pg
Your comments are rather unnecessary and poorly crafted. War is horrible, should have probably stopped there.
Ah, the masterpiece that almost no one watches twice.
I mean the movie is hard to watch is because it’s 2 people trying to survive during World War 2.
A masterpiece you can't watch again
@@MrTragedious986 Yeah that’s the fucking point of my comment. It’s a heart-wrenching film.
I do watch this every couple or so years. It make you appreciate life and you see how good most of us have it
Cept me I guess
I think the last scene with their ghosts watching over the citylights is meant as the city is the grave of fireflies. Dead fireflies were all the innocent people who were lost in the war and the cities a grave built over their deaths.
Cinema Therapy said in a way that made a lot of sense to me. Much like how many Miyazaki films explore the idea of childhood and how it eventually comes to an end, Fireflies is that same message for Japan as a whole. Japan can never be what it was and it had to accept that and move into a new era. It’s a memoriam to the countless young lives lost in the war and the loss of innocence for both the main characters and Japan overall.
Yeah in asia there a belief people who tragicly die becomes a floating fireball.
Its had to have been around 10 years since ive watched this movie, i dont remember it well but i do remember i thought it was very good, sad and i dont want to watch it again becuase of that. I put it in the same realm as Requiem For a Dream for those who have watched that movie..... very good, heart breaking and i have not watched that again since the first time i sat thru it 20 years ago lol.
Ebert said this was one of the few films that inspires actual grief.
I loved one of his other quotes too: “It belongs on any list of the greatest war films ever made.”
The man was a genius.
I got even sadder when I learned its semi-autobiographical years after I've watched it
An actual movie critic.
The grave of the fireflies is happening right now is Gaza
This was the last movie I watched with my grandmother a few years back. She grew up outside of Hiroshima during the war as young girl and saw the mushroom cloud from Little Boy. She died last year, and this movie is now a lot more special to me, especially now that I am a father.
Thanks for the review, Chris. I’ve been waiting on this one from you for a while.
How did she feel about it?
@@AnointedFlow She didn’t say much, actually. Just said it reminded her a lot of her childhood during wartime.
@@74camarolt okay.
I miss my grandma too
When the credits rolled to this movie, I just kinda sat and stared, tears pouring out. Then immediately after it ended I got an ad for Minions 2: The Rise of Gru and I threw up in my mouth
understandable
Chris grew up with Grave of fireflies
This comment is pure gold
It helps to take you out of that place though. Don't dwell there. Life can be very disturbing, we need Mininons 2 because these types of films are very powerful.
When capitalism is unmatched lol 😂
The thing that really stuck out for me for this movie were the scenes where you see Saita and Setsuko struggling, having lost everything only for the movie to cut away to a wealthy family nearby musing about how little things changed for them.
Kind of like that flood in Parasite.
Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home...
Movie left me in a puddle of tears 10/10
Same here. What an impact. Was my first introduction to the idea that a cartoon can be for grown ups and watched it with reluctance. Next day I was searching for more.
Same here
Real bro, to this day this is the single saddest movie i've ever seen
I watched this film with my younger sister 💀
Chris grew up with Grave of fireflies
This was one of the most difficult to watch movies I have ever seen.
I was at a very low point in my life.
Family troubles and life problems were keeping me from seeing my daughter, who was very young at the time.
I was also in a position at my work place that required me to basically never show much emotion, and to always be stern.
That's when I came across this film. Someone decided it would be a good idea to have a movie night featuring this movie.
Needless to say, I had to excuse myself from the area and compose a few times.
Later in life, I'm happy to say that things got better.
I went out and bought a copy as soon as I was able.
I have had it on my shelf now for years. And it will never be unwrapped or watched again.
It's a good reminder to be greatful of what I have now.
I don’t care that it’s animated, this is up there as one of the best war films ever made
There is a live acton Japanese version for those who are not into anime.
*Anti-war
Why would being animated be a knock against it?
@@Artemise7799-cg8pgwhy?
Animation can be better. This good sample.
I care that it's animation. The animation is excellent, even though it's not at the same level as Miyazaki films, it's still great.
03:55 Exactly! I was 8 when my mom took me to the theater to see the double feature. We saw Grave of the Fireflies first, were completely destroyed and couldn’t stay to see Totoro😭 But now that I’m in my 40s, I feel so blessed that I’ve experienced this gem in 35mm film at a cinema.
Sending love and support from Japan. Thanks for enjoying Studio Ghibli❤️
I think that having those two screened together actually is a great choice-albeit unintentionally. We get to see both the devestation of wwII on japan, but also the renewal. Setsuko and Seita die, but from the horrors of war, new life springs forth. I find it fitting to have them screened together as a reminder of how life, while impermanent and often times cruel meaningless and unfair, will persist
Having seen Totoro… parts of that hit way differently if you’ve seen Grave.
Young child got lost?
Well… if you watched Grave first, that hits way differently because you know how it really might end.
omg Chris I’m glad you made a feature presentation of this, a classic beautiful tearjerker of a movie. ❤
I remember watching this late night one night and I couldn't stop crying till the morning. All those images of the sister playing alone just stamped on my heart and mind. Even watching this video makes me tear up uncontrollably. A masterpiece that will absolutely break you
This is by far my favourite Ghibli Film. And that early scene outside the hospital after the brother realizes that their mother is dead. The little girl is squatting and crying while her brother is sitting furthur back, so the little sister looks even larger on the screen, they are each looking in different directions and then suddently he starts swinging from a bar to cheer up his little sister. That is probably the most striking image I have seen in any film ever.
That scene literally broke me, the ost is really haunting too 😞 it is feeling of trying to distract your loved ones from the horrors of world
Same here. That was the first scene to hit me in the feels.
That scene is the first scene that made me started bawling hard.
True story, in my undergrad my Modern Japan class was discussing ww2 era Japan and its rebuilding in the 1950s, but it kinda seemed like all the students were more interested in the war sections previously. I emailed the professor on a whim asking to show Grave of the Fireflies, as a representative of the Anime & Japanese Culture Club, and she thought it was a great idea since she'd apparently seen it, too. She made it extra credit, and I'm sure we can all imagine how things went. Thanks for covering this beautiful movie~ (also, wtf Totoro, really?)
This movie horrified me. One of the finest pieces of art out there. A gutwrenching tragedy. Made me cry sooo fucking much.
And we are still inflicting so many wars in so many countries. This movie is a reality for so many actual small children of Gaza and Ukraine and many other countries.
This is a recurring theme in humanity;War.
But to see it's impact on children is absolutely horrifying.
@@A_UA-cam_Commenter Correct, during WW2 many French, British, Philippine and Chinese kids suffered and perished because of the German and Japanese aggressions... There is no victors during a war...only victims.
Very true.
Takahata was an absolute genius. This film, Tale of Princess Kaguya, Only Yesterday…. man knew how to emotionally shatter you
He had really good tastes in stories to adapt and was extremely flexible--rather than fitting a story to his style (as, say, Miyazaki does), he would adapt his style to fit what the story called for. Grave was hyper-realistic, even with the narrative conceit of the ghosts (an extension of Nosaka's structure for the novella, which mimicked a bunraku tragedy); Pom Poko more or less mimicked Miyazaki's style (he wrote the story if I remember right); Only Yesterday was a different kind of realism than Grave, with flashbacks being portrayed in an almost dreamlike fog while the modern sections were more solid and tangible; My Neibor the Yamadas mimicked the highly stylized character designs and world of the 4-koma gag comic it was based on, and Tale of Princess Kaguya constantly shifts animation styles to mimic a dream-like fairy tale. And that's not even getting into his various series (Anne of Green Gables, Chie the Brat) and earlier movies like the seminal Horus, Prince of the Sun, or the Panda Ko Panda shorts. He was truly a chameleon of a director.
Ahhh, Grave of the Fireflies, one of the BEST movies I've seen that I NEVER want to see again.
Once is enough
Grave of Fireflies wasn't a movie; it was an emotional tidal wave that crashed into my soul, leaving me breathless and shattered on the shore. From the opening scene, a haunting premonition, a lump settled in my throat, refusing to budge. As Seita and Setsuko's story unfolded, it wasn't just a narrative; it was a gut punch delivered with the tenderness of a butterfly's kiss.
Their innocence, their unwavering love for each other, their resilience in the face of unimaginable hardship - it all felt searingly real. I laughed with them at the fireflies' ethereal glow, my heart swelling with a joy soon to be ripped away. The animation, deceptively simple yet achingly beautiful, mirrored the stark simplicity of their war-torn world, where survival was a constant, brutal struggle.
The scenes that truly broke me were painted not with grand tragedy, but with the quiet desperation of everyday life. Seita's desperate attempts to provide for Setsuko, his heartbreaking apology for selling their mother's kimono, Setsuko's childish optimism even as starvation gnawed at her - these were the moments that pierced through every emotional defense I had built.
Tears streamed down my face, blurring the screen as I witnessed their descent into despair. The hunger, the sickness, the utter helplessness - it felt like an assault on my humanity. And yet, even in the darkest moments, their love flickered like a dying ember, refusing to be extinguished.
The ending, oh, the ending. It wasn't just sad; it was a desolate wasteland of grief. Setsuko's final words, a whisper of "Seita-kun," echoed in my mind long after the credits rolled. The emptiness it left behind was profound, a void filled only with the lingering ache of their loss.
Grave of Fireflies is not just a movie; it's an experience. It's a searing indictment of war, a poignant testament to the enduring power of love, and a heartbreaking reminder of the fragility of life. It's a film that will stay with you long after the tears have dried, a poignant scar etched on your soul. So, yes, you will cry. You will sob. But through the tears, you will see the beauty of humanity, the strength of love, and the importance of cherishing every precious moment. And that, perhaps, is the true power of this unforgettable film.
Remember, tissues are highly recommended. You've been warned
It was a movie. You can find in the imbd (International MOVIE data base).
Oh how beautifully and elegantly you summarized what this masterpiece made us feel, Brilliant.
@@hambaku7318What? Where?
chat GPT
Chris seeing this again immediately makes him stronger than me
I know a lot of people only think of Hayao Miyazaki when Studio Ghibli is brought up, but man, Isao Takahata, Grave of the Fireflies and The Tale of Princess Kaguya, also has some masterpieces in his career.
Btw, please make a feature presentation of Barefoot Gen. I liked that you've mentioned that film, very underrated and also hard to watch as well.
Before Barbenhimer: we had Grave of Totoro
Truly one of the saddest and greatest movies of all time. 😢
Certified PEAK FICTION
This movie is basically the Schindler's List of Studio Ghibli, not my personal favorite but definitely is one of the most impactful movies I've seen twice.
That said, I'm loving this segment of yours, keep making more of these.
You watched it twice really 😮
Well said’
Barefoot Gen is perhaps in my top 3 most traumatizing experiences I’ve ever had while watching a movie. Both that and Grave of the Fireflies are difficult watches but Barefoot Gen’s imagery will haunt you for the rest of your life!
Barefoot Gen is insanely good. I had a hard time sleeping after watching the bomb scene.
I read the manga as a kid in my japanese school. Messed me up man
Grave of the fireflies made me teared up. Barefoot gen made me want to vomit. Both great movies!
Absolutely. I watched barefoot gen one time and I still have difficulty shaking some of that imagery when I look at modern Japan even
I've genuinely never heard of it before now, so will need to check it out. But I might wait til I'm feeling a bit emotionally stronger if it's GotF level of despairing bleakness...
I watched this when I was 17 back in 1997, not knowing what it was -- but there was nothing else on. By the end, I was in absolute shambles and cried the ugliest cry I had ever cried in my life. Absolutely devastating and a masterpiece.
Why?!😢
I remember getting ready for a frat party a couple of years ago and was excited to go out.
I put this film on while I was getting ready (it was given to me and I had never seen it).
I could not bring myself to go to that party. That weekend was lost, not in a bad way, just in a way where I felt so bad for what happened to these kids that it got me thinking of others and their well being.
I’m a parent now of 2 girls (3yo and a 6 month old) I can’t bring myself to see this now, but I think this is one of the greatest films ever created. Very powerful.
And now @7:29 I’m starting to tear up listening to Chris talk about it now that he is a dad.
Im 18 and my sister is 5
She is exactly like Setsuko both in looks and behaviour
Cant stop imagining the same scenario whatever happened to Setsuko
I just keep imagining that she.....
And I cant even do anything except beating my head to the wall and crying
I feel so angry towards the stupid war planes
I watched this like 20 years ago by myself. After it ended, I sat there quietly...and I cant stop crying. I watched it again a second time with my family. After the watch, we all sat there quietly. All bawling. This and Hachi are the only two movies that made me cry like that.
One of the aspects of this film that I hardly ever see people talk about is that Seita's pride is ultimately what kills the two of them. As awful as their aunt was, both of them would have survived if Seita had just swallowed his pride and stayed. If the film had been solely about the death of the children, it would still be good, but the added dimension of condemnation of pride really is what elevates it to a great film for me. In fact, the greatest film.
The funny thing is that Seita's pride being a flaw is actually more of a Western perspective. His decision to not stay with their aunt was supposedly considered to be reasonable by Japanese audiences at the time.
This is a flawed interpretation, IMHO. Seita was 11 years old, still very much a child, and should never have been put in that situation. Of course the decision he made was flawed--he was 11. He was just as much a victim as Setsouko. The bitch aunt was the adult there, and the one who bears responsibility for what happened.
@@plucas1 He was 14, for starters. Their aunt was absolutely in the wrong; I don't mean to deny that. However, while it is an extremely believable decision for a 14 year old raised in a culture of national and personal pride to make, it is still the decision that got them both killed.
Yes, that's what I remember too. I remember myself almost screaming at the screen - what the fuck are you doing, if you're so fucking self-entitled then leave the sister where she can be fed and cared for, go fucking work, you're a big boy already
@@austinuhr8459
That's just like the European, an outsider/foreigner prescribing a culture instead of describing, vacillating from the same axiomatic principles they want want everyone else to adhere.
After you announced that you were reviewing this movie I finally decided to watch it after it being in my watchlist for a very long time. What an absolute masterpiece it is. Devastating but also truly beautiful. Instant 5 star movie from me.
Indeed, one of the most important movies ever made and I absolutely believe that every human being in the world should see it at least once.
When I saw it the first time, I wasn't even able to cry at the end, I was so completely destroyed, I just sat there for I don't know how long and wasn't able to move.
One of the things that devastated me the most is that her last words to her brother are actually "thank you Seita" 😭
I'm from Indonesia. Thank you very much for this review. I'll honestly admit, there are not so many movies out there that truly portrays the harsh reality in life. But you'll probably never ever expect that this *animated* movie is probably one of the very rare few movies (of all time) that really shows the 'realest' reality, which certainly have also happened in the real world/real life (eg: wars, death, grief, tragedy, etc2). This not those typical 'heroic action' war movies that most people usually like to watch just for the sake of entertainment. No, this IS reality, as depressing as it can happen in the real world. And also the fact it's actually coming from the usual 'fun, imaginative, dreamy' Studio Ghibli, is even much more surprising, contrasting, shocking, yet also, like you've said very well in the video, makes this to be one of the most *important* Ghibli movie, with its *real* messages. It really makes you deeply reflect on the harsh reality of our world, life, & existence.
It is an amazing, haunting and important movie. I also read the semi-autobiographical book the movie is based on and it says in the end, that only a few days after Seita died, a law was passed that would ensure that all orphans of the war would have been taken care of. And although the characters in the movie and the book are fictional it was a gruesome reality and hundreds of children died before people started caring and the government would make sure that they were taken care of.
Regarding the double-Feature with Totoro. I heard somewhere that Totoro was planned to be shown after that movie and Totoro being a very slow and pieceful movie especially at the beginnjng, was meant to also give people a little breather after this juggernaut of an emotional movie.
It’s amazing to see your transformation since you have become a father listening to your reviews. It’s all right there you’re a different person. Been watching you for years. Love what you do and thank you
The story was originally a short story written by Akiyuki Nosaka as an apology letter to his little sister who had died during WWII same way as Setsuko via malnutrition. He was Seita that couldn't protect his Setsuko n his character dying in the story is a metaphorical suicide because of his survivor's guilt.
It was a story of who he should have been as an older brother, not who he was.
That he dies as well in “this is what I should have done” is typical survivor guilt.
I saw this movie with my younger sister years ago and it just crushed me. It's a masterpiece that I rarely can recommend to anyone. I think the fact that they are "drawings" is what makes it more real, in live action films you can tell yourself at some point that it's all actors and sets, in animated films like this you see the life of the characters as real people in their own real world and never outside of it, the fact that it isn't a fantasy story but set in a place and time that actually existed just adds another layer of reasons to cry and think. I even cried again just watching this review, definitely don't think I can go through another rewatch. Thanks for the review.
What a welcomed surprise. So glad you're talking about this masterpiece. My favorite Ghibli film
This movie is a masterpiece, and it's a story that could happen in any country because of war.
I want everyone all over the world to see it, even if they're not interested in Japan.
By the way, this movie was shown in a set with My Neighbor Totoro.
Setsuko and Satsuki are the same age.
Imagine how shocked the Japanese people were to see these movies back to back at the cinema in 1988.
they were too shocked to stand up from the seat.
It's crazy how just listening to you talk about the film, i can still vividly remember the images and almost tear up while walking my dog.
except if it isn't a good film then he won't talk about it
First time here. Thanks for the review. There are few kinds of people with certain memories of their life past that will be super susceptible to this movie. Victims of war, parents, grown up children who lost their parents would be some of them. I am a father of two kids and someone who lost both of my parents due to tragedy. I watched this film by accident. It was to be my first contact with the works of Ghibli studio . I don't know why I chose exactly this one. In doing so, I sealed my fate as someone who was absolutely and completely moved by the image I saw. The film shook me profoundly, made my heart break into thousands of pieces, each one being a fragment of my past that resonated idly with the content of this beautiful and moving film. I'm 48 years old, I've seen a lot in my life, I've seen many movies, but none in my life has moved me as deeply as Greave Of The Fireflies. Today I know that this masterpiece will forever remain the most beautiful and sad and at the same time the most personal I have ever seen in my life.
I tried watching this video with my bf. He saw the movie back when it was released. He was a teenager back then. He left the room because even just seeing back of the movie in your review made him cried. I gave him a hug and watched the rest on my phone.😢😢
I'm 31 yrs old. I've been a fan of Studio Ghibli since my middle school years. I've always wanted to see this movie. I knew it would be sad, but Studio Ghibli movies are so profound so I knew it'd be worth the watch.
Tonight, I finally watched this film on Netflix. I'm also a new, first time mom. My 3 month old was asleep on my lap during the entire film. My husband had fallen alseep and left me hanging (we werd supposed to suffer through this together!)
Omg, I held my daughter so tight while I was watching this movie... it was so haunting and tragic. Idk if I could ever sit through this again. I didn't cry but my heart silently broke into a million pieces. All I could do was cling to my daughter, too afraid of the thought of ever letting her go....
First encountered this animé 9 years ago. By far the saddest movie I have ever seen in my life. It starts out sad and continuously increases in tragedy. And like most of us, I watch a lot of tough movies, but this one was haunting! And the fact that the novel + the film are autobiographical, based on Akiyuki Nosaka own life, as well as that of countless Japanese children is more than just a sobering reality! The "can't take your eyes away" effect is so true, perhaps even more so to US Americans, to whom the realities of war are a telegram (since wars always take place abroad from an American point of view). I'm German and only 29, so it's not like I have, but I know the stories of my grandparents' generation about ... you know, grandma's sister having to swim across the river with food stolen from the enemy's tents. And your childhood dog getting choked to death on purpose because she could bark and give your hiding place away. And then the constant gang rape during the relocation of the dispossessed, etc., etc.
The word for firefly is written as '蛍' in kanji, but in this movie, the same sound is represented with different characters, '火垂る'. '火' represents fire, and '垂' represents dripping or falling. In essence, this is also a metaphor for incendiary bombs.
3:20
It's flakes of solidified sugar water. If you remember, the sister wanted one of the candies, but the can had run out of it, so the brother put some water in it to melt the remaining crumbs to make something sweet for her.
And then he put the sister ashes after she died.
3:24 Actually, I think that what spills out of the little can are bone fragments. From the sister. I do think that's what it is. Yeah, more sadness.
A brilliant and amazing movie that you can only watch once. Once is enough in this lifetime.
For me, I couldn't even cry to it. It just felt so numbing and hollow. Like all the light in the world disappeared and there was just a void. Already at the beginning, you knew the outcome. And the sensation of grief is just there throughout. You can't cry, you can't mourn. You just wait for the inevitable. Just for Seita to be reunited with Setsuko again and I think that is what makes it even sadder. Is when you can't cry. You just wait for how they both pass away.
The fact that the bomber in the poster went unnoticed for years, holy focken ship
We need a UN resolution that any legislature, president, dictator, or king declaring war must watch this movie prior to making such a decision.
This is a movie I watched once as a young adult and I still can't bare the thought of rewatching it. There are several devastating scenes that have burned into my brain that I can still remember years later.
I have 2 little sister that I care for deeply. To imagine those scenarios happening to either one of them, I don’t even want to imagine the pain I would feel. Hug your loved ones closely. Because I sure as shit did when I saw the movie the second time.
I don’t cry a lot in movies but the one scene that broke me was the bit where the little girl is playing alone while a new family gets a new big house across the water. That slow transition from the house to the little girl dying caused me to have tears of pain. That is a type of pain that I don’t ever want to feel again. And that I hope that other people don’t have to feel that. This movie needs to be seen at least once.
Im 18 and my sister is 5
She is exactly like Setsuko in both looks and behaviour
Cant stop imagining the same scenario whatever happened to Setsuko
I just keep imagining that she.....
And I cant even do anything except beating my head to the wall and crying
Im 18 and my sister is 5
She exactly looks and behaves like Setsuko
Cant stop imagining the same scenario whatever happened to Setsuko
Specially with the threat of WW3
I just keep imagining that she.....
And I cant even do anything except beating my head to the wall and crying
One of my favorite films of all time. Absolutely devastating. Makes me cry like a baby every time. It is, in my opinion, a perfect film.
This is located in Kobe city where I was born and raised. You can tell that by their dialect and the piller that the brother was leaning over when he was dying at the opening scene. The piller at Kobe station was very distinct so if you have been there you can tell where it happened even though you are a child. Yes I was one of those children who went there to watch Totoro. Imagine how much impact you would get by it. Watching two kids speaking in your own dialect trying to live together in your own neighborhood. (And you are told that it's based on a true story!) Right after the credit started, I looked up my dad next to me and cried out, that relief.. I would never forget that. I'm glad that I was there though.
Thanms for sharing,
Are Sakuma drops good? I want to get some online from Japan
@ I think it's ordinary drops in a good way. Made from natural ingredients so nothing harsh or unique. I loved when I was a child. Unfortunately Sakuma drops had to be discontinued in 2021 because of the pandemic. The company still make IP limited editions sometimes, so maybe you can access those? I hope you can enjoy them
@@sensen2299 thank you! I heard there is another company that is making them now
Here's a challenge for the crowd that filled cinemas last year: watch this movie, and only then go see Oppenheimer!
Godzilla
Such a masterpiece. My wife and I watched this and lost lots of liquid through the eyes. I watched it on my own after and nothing changed. It’s still sad. Devastating. Great. Mesmerizing. Still a masterpiece.
Really hits hard as a father of 2 young kids. What makes it sadder is that the author of the book actually lived through this and lost his young sister to malnutrition during the war while taking care of her.
Man... just thinking about it is enough to make you cry, it definitely is the saddest movie that's ever been. It's beautiful, a must watch, even though you know you'll just watch it once, it's too strong to do it again
I watched this film with my Ghibli-loving 12-year-old daughter a few years ago. It was the first time for both of us, and we were both in tears at the end. We haven't seen it since, but occasionally we will have great conversations about it.
Saw this as a teenager in the 90s and it left me depressed for months. Powerful film
My father was born and raised in Kobe, the setting of this movie, in 1935. So he experienced the same thing as this movie. After the war, everyone had no food and it was hard to survive, and many people were malnourished, but they continued to live their lives. I heard stories like this movie from my father. When war breaks out, it is children who are the biggest victims. I would like world leaders to see this movie.
I watched 'When marnie was there' last weekend and it really made me emotional. The animation was top notch and the story was heartfelt.
I love that movie. That’s, if not, my favorite non-Miyazaki directed Ghibli movie
the ending song Fine on the Outside by Priscilla Ahn is so good
One of the best films from the studio!
Chris grew up with Grave of fireflies
when marnie was there was beautiful
This film was inspired by a semi-autobiographical short story written by Akiyuki Nosaka. It is very interesting to hear his take on who the true villain of the story is and it's plain to see the kind of guilt he lived with throughout his life in the post WW2 era.
The review itself made me burst into tears. Cannot think about think movie without crying
You were so on point when you said that its really hard to watch now that you're a father. I have a 2 year old daughter and it pains me to see a little girl suffer. Man this movie is special.
Chris has great instincts about the wordplay in the title! Let me explain:
The Japanese title of Grave of the Fireflies is 火垂る の 墓 (Hotaru no Haka)
"Hotaru" means "Firefly" and "Haka" means "Grave" BUT... "Hotaru" is normally written just like this: 蛍 , NOT like this: 火垂る
火 (ho) means "fire." 垂る (taru) means "to drip/to drop" So... while 火垂る (hotaru) sounds like the word for "firefly" it's actually a homophone, referencing fire bombs.
I was wondering why the 火垂るwas written like a verb with る at the end. Interesting!
It is such a treat to have you talk about this movie. I think i can name maybe 5-6 films that left me absolutely numb after watching- this might take the top spot. The range of what anime can do is incredible, and I am so thankful to be a fan of this genre.
I was waiting for ages to listen to you talk about this
Every time I hear people talk about this film I can feel tears coming up my eyes, I just deeply feel that no one deserves a life like this, no one.
It's insane that there actually are people today living in a worse nightmare than the characters in this film. And that we are watching it unfold live every day. May God have mercy on the people of Gaza.
Stuckman takes sponsorship money from Israeli company "betterhelp" too.
No need for comparison. Any children suffering anywhere around the world for any reason, at any tme, is always the worst. In Ukraine children are suffering because of adults hubris, greed, and hateful hearts, same in Palestine. None of it’s okay.
@@kailovi yeah still the people that the U.S. attacks (including the people in gaza now), especially in that period at the end of and after ww2, lived in a unique struggle. My family in syria and in iraq lived through the same thing too. This movie captures that very accurately
Thought you were gonna be talking about the Kurds.
@@ljyljy88 many people around the globe are suffering like that too, including in Yemen, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, the Uyghers, etc.
But of course none even close to the degree of horror that is inflicted in the ongoing genocide in Gaza. It has surpassed even WW2 levels of inhumanity. This is why I mentioned that.
I had lived for maybe a year or so in the same area where the movie takes place before I saw it for the first time. I remember a point during viewing the film when I recognized the shape of the mountains in the background very distinctly. I’ve personally heard firsthand stories from victims who were children at the time of these bombings, but there was something about seeing the same mountains that made it so real.
We need a movie of a character that travels through worlds to save characters, like he saves Setsuko, Mufasa, Bambi's mom etc
oh Chris, I wasn't sure if I should watch this video... I am sobbing at minute 3:23 of your video... this movie broke my heart and found a beautiful place in it. I recorded it once upon a time on in my teens on VHS to show everyone this masterpiece... Not able to rewatch it.
LOVING this new segment, your channel has become such a special place for young filmmakers and film enthusiasts. Btw the Madame Web video was great, I don't get the hate.
Just listening to you talking about his masterpiece had me crying 😭
When I was in college, this was my first anime movie and that was unforgettable experience.
The scene where Setsuko is hallucinating and starts eating the stones is the moment when the floodgates were let out for me. Never stopped from then on
Another similar film to check out is 'In this Corner of the World'
I have fond memories of seeing the premier at AX Los Angeles.
Another masterpiece
A wonderful movie.
My world history teacher showed my class this film, once the film was over everyone was in complete silence and not a dry eye in the class. True story. This is one of the most depressing and saddest films ever. A masterpiece.
its not that depressing once you realize how barbaric the japenese people were to the chinese
@@damianplasencia2708communal guilt?
Hmm.
The only movie that has ever made me cry.
I watched this masterpiece for the first time 20 years ago and I don't think I've ever recovered fully from it 😭 I was discovering and diving in to Studio Ghibli at the time, I was not expecting a movie like this.
Glad you're just continuing on without responding to people like AngryJoe saying you lost credibility for not bashing Madame Web. I don't know where these people go the idea you were defending the film to protect your career. You literally said at the start of that video that you wouldn't bash the film but dissect how studios like Sony are ruining the superhero genre. How would criticizing Sony help your career? You made a lot of important points that these low attention spans missed.
Man, when Chris talked about his daughter, thats the same thought i had while watching this film, but in my case, having a little sister, the connection hit even deeper. That's why this film is so special for me. I have only watched it twice, and want to watch it again, just to remind myself about what matters to me in my life.
One of the earliest Studio Ghibli film and THE GREATEST film they've ever crafted even to this day partially due to its grounded, believable, grim yet still beautiful theme and how masterfully they pull off each and every one of its story beats without flaw. This film is just an all around Masterpiece. I've never had any animated movie that made me cry, but this was the first one to do it. There's just no other film like it.
Thank you so much for talking about this film!!! I loved hearing your thoughts man.
I completely respect only watching this maybe once or twice. I actually view it somewhat often as a humbling reminder of just how precious moments in time truly are. 🙏🏻🖤
Definitely the best Ghibli film 🙌🏻
Ps. Thanks for the Barefoot Gen recommendation, I’ll have to check that one out!
I watched this movie with my brother and mother back in 2021 during pandemic, both of them towards the end were trying their best to control their tears and so was I , they were successful but I was not I cried like a giant baby , I cried so hard never cried like that in years my mother quickly turned off the tv and condoled me quickly but man it was such a painful process it felt so bad my heart was aching and I am a grown ass 6ft bearded dude. I love this movie and I want this to be shown in schools to teach little children early on the devastation war brings upon the people of the nation it's difficult to watch but an extremely important film
it's probably too hard for little kids, why not show it to the world "leaders" so they can think about consequences of everything decisions they make?
This was such a great and emotional movie. Being a dad of girls now watching this movie definitely puts you in perspective of the brother
There are no Japanese people who watch this movie and feel bad about the United States or the B-29 bomber.
Because it's not a movie about that.
I believe that what this film expresses is the gradual loss of humanity in extreme conditions.
From elderly Japanese people
When I watched this as a really young child in the theater I just thought it was boring, but watching it again as an adult who already experience losses, it hits really hard.
Even watching you talking about it still hits me hard.
Imagine what the children in Gaza are going through…
Imagine what the Israeli kids are going through growing up with bombs being fired on them on a daily basis. Poor gaza children raised to hate and kill. Be sorry for those who want peice not those who chant death to jews.
3:20 according to some source I read few years back, inside that candy container was his little sister bone fragments.
I thought I am ready to watch this movie again but the fact that I was crying the whole 10 min Stuckmann was talking shows that I need to wait a few more years…
" "Grave of the Fireflies" is a 1967 semi-autobiographical short story by Japanese author Akiyuki Nosaka. It is based on his experiences before, during, and after the firebombing of Kobe in 1945. One of his sisters died as the result of sickness, his adoptive father died during the firebombing proper, and his younger adoptive sister Keiko died of malnutrition in Fukui. It was written as a personal apology to Keiko, regarding her death. "
WTF DO YOU WANT CRY BABY WHY OFF 0:17
I’ve seen it twice… once alone and once with my mom after she saw me bawling my eyes out after the first time.
I just love Isao Takahata. Nobody talks about only yesterday… both made me cry but for different reasons
Wondering what the Palestinian kids are going through now😓
Suffering because of Hamas
@@NoOne-ky1er after 15000 childrens getting killed by Israel if you still think its hamas to blame then shame on you
Two parts of the film that are more shocking when you think about it:
1. In the opening scene, what falls off the rusty candy drops tin is a bone fragment, already telling the audience that the tin contains Setsuko's ashes.
2. In the whole time Seita tries to keep their mother's death a secret from Setsuko, he only finds out that their aunt flat out told her during the scene where she buries the fireflies.
Also, the Sakuma Confectionery Company, which made the candy drops featured in the film, closed its doors on January 20, 2023.
Gazah needs to be highlighted as well.
Fun fact: Isao Takahata maintains that he never intended to make audiences cry or make the story feel tragic. He supposedly revealed the death of the siblings at the beginning to save the audience from heartbreak. But all it did was make us feel the inevitability of their impending deaths.
Reminder: This movie is a reality for the children in Palestine.
You killed me with the Barefoot Gen reference at the end. Both are masterpieces.