MOVIE REVIEW - GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES

I Happened to strolling through the library aisles and Picked up a cute looking movie- Grave of the fireflies. The only reason I picked it up was because it was an award winning movie. I am usually pretty picky about appreciating movies . But I could not talk throughout the time I was viewing the movie- I had a fat lump in my throat which was threatening to come out thorough my eyes as tears. By the end of the movie, I was shattered.

I am even otherwise, anti-war. I believe that if each can do with a little less and be a little more accomodative in nature, we can have a lot less animosity, hate and war in this world. War just kills a lot of innocent people and devastates their families, whose stories we never even get to hear. Grave of the fireflies is one such story.

Seita and Setsuke are brother and sister war orphans . The movie is about how they live their life post War and how through it all , their innocence and yet responsibility and zest for life shines through. It talks about the fragility of life, the pointlessness of war, Human prejudices, innocence of children, familial bonds, Nature, and a whole host of other gentle and subtle issues.

The movie ends as a tragedy. Yet it is one of those rare movies that make you feel blessed to have seen. The innocence of children that shines brightly through the film just like the fireflies shine through the night for Seita and Setsuke.

I believe that when you finish seeing a movie, you should have gained something from the movie that makes you a better person in your thinking. You should come out a better person than you went in to see the movie. Grave of the firelies is that and much more.

The animation I thought was far superior and much more realistic than Pop American animation. The potrayal of characters was heartbreakingly touching. You will not be disappointed in seeing this movie. It is available online throgh several sites, including amazon.com. ( see SEARCH option below )