I already knew what this movie was about, so when it came time to watch it on my journey to see all of Studio Ghibli, I hesitated for a moment. Was I ready for a beautiful, yet heavy film about the final days of World War 2? I thought I was, but I was honestly expecting it to be told through allegory, much like the first two films were, but instead of thinly veiled stories of fallen empires and worlds torn asunder, “Grave of the Fireflies” forces you to look at how things actually were for two orphans trying to survive in impossible situations. There’s light moments, yes, but the stark reality is that it was a terrible situation that many didn’t escape from and their journey was a painful and futile exercise that ended in a painful end.
This was is a gorgeous film but I don’t think I’ll be revisiting it.
