Today I watched the anime "Grave of the Fireflies", and it left me feeling very sad and thoughtful about the effects war has on the innocent.
Grave of the Fireflies is a 1988 Japanese animated war film based on the 1967 semi-autobiographical short story of the same name by Akiyuki Nosaka. It was written and directed by Isao Takahata, and animated by Studio Ghibli. Set in Kobe, Japan, it tells the story of two siblings, Seita and Setsuko, who are left orphaned due to the bombings on Japan by the US and how they try to survive.
A heart-wrenching story, it shows us how war takes a toll not only on the people fighting in it, but also those who had nothing to do with it.
We see how these siblings, both still young, have to mature way beyond their age just to survive in a world where they did nothing wrong. Tears will fall from your eyes when you see how Seita, a mere fourteen year old has to play the role of an adult for his five year old sister.
The ultimate death of both the siblings due to malnutrition makes us realise how helpless they were and how much their innocent souls were shattered due to the wicked.
The central theme of the entire plot was pride. It showed us how pride often destroys us and is no good. The war between Japan and the US was due to pride, Japan's refusal to surrender was due to pride, the children's aunt treating them badly was due to pride, and them leaving her house to live on their own was also due to Seita's pride.
While a separate singular person cannot be blamed for these tragic circumstances, it was all a chain reaction that occurred due to different people's pride. If only one of them had swallowed their pride, the two poor souls may not have ended up like this.
This movie makes us realise how we should learn to not be so egoistic and prideful, and how being the bigger person can save not only ours but other's lives as well.
I recommend everyone to watch this film atleast once. It's truly needed.
Why do fireflies have to die so soon?
–Setsuko
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