Grave Of The Fireflies. (12A.)
Directed by Isao Takahata.
1988. Out on Blu-ray. 90 mins
Though Hayao Miyazaki has come to be regarded as the Walt Disney father figure of Studio Ghibli, the venture was cofounded with Takahata. Originally in Japan Ghibli released Grave of the Fireflies on exactly the same day as Miyazaki’s My Neighbour Totoro, which would be the equivalent of Spielberg releasing Schindler’s List and ET simultaneously.
Grave of the Fireflies is as harrowing a depiction of the effects of war as has been put on the screen, probably because of, rather than despite, it being a cartoon. It is a simple tale of two orphaned children starving to death in the last months of World War Two. In Japan where they are more accepting of a much wider variety of themes being dealt with in comic books and cartoons such a subject matter was probably less of a shock. To western viewers it often seems something of a violation; like seeing Scooby Doo and the gang as the victims in a Saw sequel.
After their mother dies the teenaged Seiko tries to shield his little sister Setsuko from the full horror of the situation though tragically this attempt to retain their innocence probably gets them killed. They get taken in by an aunt but she is still devoted to the war effort and can’t really accept the two of them loafing around and acting like children so eventually they head out into the woods.
Takahata’s animation is simpler and more functional than Miyazaki’s but that could be a blessing here; if his characters were any more expressive and lifelike the film would be unbearable. Imagine the film if Setsuko were as vivid and adorable a creation as the bawling, round faced Mei in Totoro with her pinchable chubby cheek. Even so it is convincing enough to drag your heart through the wringer and the final image is quietly devastating.
Grave comes packed with features, mostly quite earnest interviews, the best of which is an insightful contribution from film reviewer Roger Ebert. As with the Kiki disc there is a function to watch the film with the original storyboard drawing in the corner of the picture but I’m not sure that it will be anything more than a fun gimmick to most viewers.
Directed by Isao Takahata.
1988. Out on Blu-ray. 90 mins
Though Hayao Miyazaki has come to be regarded as the Walt Disney father figure of Studio Ghibli, the venture was cofounded with Takahata. Originally in Japan Ghibli released Grave of the Fireflies on exactly the same day as Miyazaki’s My Neighbour Totoro, which would be the equivalent of Spielberg releasing Schindler’s List and ET simultaneously.
Grave of the Fireflies is as harrowing a depiction of the effects of war as has been put on the screen, probably because of, rather than despite, it being a cartoon. It is a simple tale of two orphaned children starving to death in the last months of World War Two. In Japan where they are more accepting of a much wider variety of themes being dealt with in comic books and cartoons such a subject matter was probably less of a shock. To western viewers it often seems something of a violation; like seeing Scooby Doo and the gang as the victims in a Saw sequel.
After their mother dies the teenaged Seiko tries to shield his little sister Setsuko from the full horror of the situation though tragically this attempt to retain their innocence probably gets them killed. They get taken in by an aunt but she is still devoted to the war effort and can’t really accept the two of them loafing around and acting like children so eventually they head out into the woods.
Takahata’s animation is simpler and more functional than Miyazaki’s but that could be a blessing here; if his characters were any more expressive and lifelike the film would be unbearable. Imagine the film if Setsuko were as vivid and adorable a creation as the bawling, round faced Mei in Totoro with her pinchable chubby cheek. Even so it is convincing enough to drag your heart through the wringer and the final image is quietly devastating.
Grave comes packed with features, mostly quite earnest interviews, the best of which is an insightful contribution from film reviewer Roger Ebert. As with the Kiki disc there is a function to watch the film with the original storyboard drawing in the corner of the picture but I’m not sure that it will be anything more than a fun gimmick to most viewers.
