Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Some times I gotta ask myself why I seek out films like this. Films that creates a tightening knot in my stomach that ends in uncontrollable sobbing at the end. I guess when ones own life is thankfully with few worries or tragedies, then there is something compelling about seeking out strong emotions from the world of film.
There isn’t exactly a lack of great films showing the tragedies war inflict upon people. What I think this animated film does that is unique is telling it from a childs perspective. Usually child actors aren’t very good or convincing, and if they are, often only in a few isolated scenes. Using animation opens up to make a focus that I don’t think could be done the same way with child actors, and even though animation makes for much simpler facial expressions for example, we somehow fill in the blanks as viewers and it feels real despite the limitations.
In many ways it is similar to Come and See in that we spend most of the time with basically kids just trying to stay alive, and especially the depiction of famine and food shortage as being more dangerous than bullets. And with the obvious message that a warzone is no place for kids to be by themselves, but it is what often happens.
I can see that the film does pull on ones emotional strings with various effective methods, but I don’t think it was too much and it definitely worked better on me than when Hollywood movies is trying to make me feel sad. I am not immune to shedding a few tears, but it often comes from nostalgia - like a particular piece of music in Lord of the Rings. Other movies have left me almost sick for hours - like Irreversible, Come and See or Utøya: July 22, but it is rare an ending makes me sob like this. Even though you basically know that this is where the story will end, so it is no surprise, but still effective. Likely doesn’t help I had two daughters at a similar age sleeping upstairs.
I am going to put this film in the box of “the greatest films of all time, that I don’t want to watch again”. I think it is important to at least sometimes watch something like this to set things into perspective and reflect a bit on what to be grateful for.
Rating: 5