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Product Detail |
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Audio Format: DD 2.0 Video Format: Widescreen 1.78:1 (Anamorphic) Languages: Japanese, English Subtitles: English Region Code: 1 Year Made: 1988 Running Time: 89
In the aftermath of a World War II bombing, two orphaned children struggle to survive in the Japanese countryside. To Seita and his four-year old sister, the helplessness and indifference of their countrymen is even more painful than the enemy raids. Through desperation, hunger and grief, these children's lives are as heartbreakingly fragile as their spirit and love is inspiring. Grave of the Fireflies is a tale of the true tragedy of war and innocence lost, not only of the abandoned young, but of an entire nation.
Based on a semi-autobiographical novel by Nosaka Akiyuki, Hotaru No Haka (Grave of the Fireflies) tells the tragic story of 14yr old Seita and his 4yr old sister, Setsuko. Orphaned as a result of the ongoing Second World War, Seita and his sister struggle to survive in a world that cannot care for them, and will ultimately consume them.
The story is quite simply, devastating - Isao Takahata (Miyazaki's partner in crime) manages to bring a realism to anime which is so rarely seen, capturing both the innocence of youth and the hardships of the world that is thrust upon the characters. Watching this film is a very emotional experience, for the most part it is a very sad film to watch, but there are moments of pure joy in there, and upon repeated views I found myself overwhelmed in parts with a huge sense of relief (as you see the characters are together again, no longer facing the pain they endured).
The world of war-torn Japan, 1945, is brought to life in a slightly more rooted fashion than we have come to expect from anime. Whilst maintaining the trademark Studio Ghibli art direction, the film has to trade in fantasy for reality to really get the impact of the war across to us, the viewers. This is helped immensely by the superb musical compositions featured throughout the film courtesy of Yoshio Mamiya, and of course the stunningly beautiful final piece from Maurice Ravel.
More than anything, this is the anime film you can show to your friends and family to prove that its not all about sex and violence, but that anime can instead be used to portray a story that will surely stay with you for the rest of your days.
  
  
Special Features:
- Interviews with Director Isao Takahata and Author Akiyuki Nosaka
- Interview: Film Critic Robert Ebert
- Author Biography: Akiyuki Nosaka
- Director Biography: Isao Takahata
- Historical Perspective: Commentary by Professor Theodore F. Cook & Professor Haruko Taya Cook
- Video Restoration Documentary
- Bonus Storyboards
- Trailers
- Original Japanese Theatrical Trailers
- Art Gallery
- U.S.Trailer
DVD-ROM Features:
- Script
- Additional Storyboards
- Art Gallery
- Cast & Production Credits
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