Not many films have been given a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes, which is a testament to the top ranked war film on the site — Grave of the Fireflies.
You wouldn’t think an anime could depict wartime tragedy and hardship as well as it does, with the 1hr 39 minute spectacular hailed as the “best war movie ever”.
Set towards the end of World War II, Grave of the Fireflies follows Seita and his younger sister Setsuko as they try their best to survive in the rubble of a firebombed Kobe, Japan after losing their mother.
Directed by Isao Takahata, it deals with a number of hard-hitting and heart-wrenching themes, not only grief but also family, love and innocence.
The story is inspired by Takahata’s own experiences of war which he once described as “the defining event of [his] life”.
Before he became a famed filmmaker, Isao and his older sister fled their home in Okayama, western Japan, barefoot after it was attacked with incendiary weapons.
But amidst the chaos, it appeared they’d run the opposite direction of their family, and as they wandered the ablaze streets alone, his sister’s clothes set alight, leaving her permanently scarred — but most importantly, alive.
This tough childhood helped Isao craft a truley perfect story in Grave of the Fireflies, which narrates the weight of children’s suffering in war, showing a world where the most vulnerable are not effectively protected.
Don’t just take The Express‘ word for it, a whopping 49 critics gave the film a stellar 100% rating, while more than 10,000 audience ratings averaged out to an impressive 95%.
One critic wrote: “It is a moving piece in front of which the public cannot remain indifferent, the story enunciates with warmth and raw honesty, the consequences of war on childhood and its irreversible consequences and how the adults seem to be absent.”
Another added: “Some movies are such singular achievements that they deserve to be seen at least once by everyone who considers himself or herself to be a lover of film. Grave of the Fireflies falls into that exclusive category.”
A viewer shared these sentiments, saying: ” This movie takes your heart out and rips it up. Such an emotional story and a unique way to examine the effects of war.”
While a second added: “Gorgeous yet devastating. The animation quality is excellent as is expected but the story itself is brutal, but extremely important. Everyone should see it.”
But does Grave of the Fireflies live up to all the hype? Make your own mind up, with the movie available to watch on both Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.