International Feature: Grave of the Fireflies

The devastating impact of war through the eyes of children creates one of cinema's most profound animated experiences, standing as Studio Ghibli's most sobering and realistic work.

• Grave of the Fireflies (1988) is directed by Isao Takahata, co-founder of Studio Ghibli
• The film follows 14-year-old Seita and his younger sister Setsuko as they struggle to survive after losing their mother in WWII Japan
• Originally released as a double feature with My Neighbor Totoro, creating a stark contrast in tone and subject matter
• Based on a semi-autobiographical short story where the author survived but lost his sister to malnutrition
• Currently holds 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and is widely considered one of the greatest war films ever made
• Recently became available on Netflix after decades of limited accessibility
• The complex portrayal of Seita's character sparks debates about responsibility versus impossible circumstances

Letterbox'd Synopsis: In the final months of World War II, 14-year-old Seita and his sister Setsuko are orphaned when their mother is killed during an air raid in Kobe, Japan. After a falling out with their aunt, they move into an abandoned bomb shelter. With no surviving relatives and their emergency rations depleted, Seita and Setsuko struggle to survive.

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