“Why are the fireflies dying so fast, Seita?”
Director: Isao Takahata
“Grave of the Fireflies” is a Japanese anime film from the year 1988. Set in Japan during the years of war, 14-year-old Seita lives together with his 4-year-old sister Setsuko. Their mother is killed at a bomb attack in their hometown Kobe, and they end up moving to stay with their aunt. But when Seita starts to care more for his sister than for the reconstruction of the bombed-out house, they both receive less to eat.
Finally, they flee into a dugout near the town. Now, Seita has to care for his sister without help from anyone else. He steals from others or breaks into houses during the bomb attacks to feed them. The movie is based on flashbacks, so you’ll already know the tragic ending: Seita dies alone at a station.
The movie is based on the book “Grave of the Fireflies“, which itself is an autobiography based loosely on this series on events.
