Here's a movie that really knows how to draw out the emotions. We laughed, we cried ... and we cried, and cried, and cried, and fell into a deep depressive abyss of sad sadness (in the best sort of way).
So, here are some topic questions to respond to to get the conversation started:
- What was it like for you to be the Them that was causing so much fear and destruction (the bombings were caused by the American military)?
- What is the value of us watching the incredible sadness depicted in this film?
- Did you notice all the focus on little, everyday routines and actions that were animated with such detail (e.g. Setsuko getting undressed to swim, the candy sticking when Setsuko tries to get it out of the tin, Seita rolling in bed, etc.)? As we learned in class, this is characteristic of Isao Takahata's work. How do you feel these moments contribute to the overall film?
- Also, there were some cultural references in the film that would be fun to know more about. For your response, you could do a little research and report on one of the following: what is the symbolism of cherry blossoms in Japan? What is the symbolism of the fireflies and the movie's title? What is the significance of the uniform that Seita wears? What is the "Divine Wind" the characters talk about at the end of the film (after they've lost the war)?
So, after checking out one more interesting little thing I found, write your 2-3 paragraph response to the film below, jumping off one of the discussion points above or something else someone has said. You also check out responses to this other post on Grave of the Fireflies to see what my last international cinema class thought of this film.
Tommy Kiter
ReplyDeleteThe american military pissed me off. I could never in my life do such a thing and kill so much people. Why did they cause all of this hatred and pain to happen. To see how this war ended was sad and depressing It tought me to always accept someone for who they are and dont judge by book or cover. This movie to me is if a war ever happend again families would be lost and lives would be taken. I really liked this movie it really kept me going i always wanted to know what was going to happen next. Worldwar II was underway by 1939 and ended in 1945. It involved alot of nations around the world. It was the most widespread war in history. I Wanted to put these things out there. Thanks josh for showing me this movie it was sad and enjoyable.
Tommy Kiter
ReplyDeleteWanted to put some of this information in if it interests anyone.
The Empire of Japan aimed to dominate East Asia and was already at war with the Republic of China in 1937 the world war is generally said to begin on September 1, 1939 with the invasion of Poland by Germany and subsequent declarations of war on Germany by France and Britain. From late 1939 to early 1941 Germany formed the Axis alliance with Italy, conquering or subduing much of continental Europe.The war in Europe ended with the capture of Berlin by Soviet and Polish troops and the German, surrender on 8 May 1945.
Thanks for sharing. I appreciate that this research reminds us that Japan were the aggressors in the war. They started it, so to speak. This is not to mean that it was a good thing for us to bomb them. War itself is bad. Period. This movie reminds us how bad war is and how costly it is. I hope that we will just remember that the Japanese as a nation were not innocent in this war. They did terrible things to other nations. Rather than cause us to think that Japan is good and the U.S. is bad, I think it is better to use to film to remember that was is bad.
DeleteTayia Groesbeck-
ReplyDeleteThis is probably my favorite movie we have watched so far, I thought it was really cute and sad at the same time and i'm into those kind of movies.
I couldent really understand what the first question was, but i think its saying what it would be like for you if you were being bombed.
If I was being bomb I would be really scared and especially if I had one of my young siblings with me. If I were being bombed and everything that happened to them, happend to me I would probably end up killing myself after I found out my mother died and then after my sibling died there is no way i could live with myself because I would feel like it was all my fault. I wouldent want to have to live threw any more wars or my world getting torn down by other people.
I'm so glad to have shared a film that you enjoyed so much!
DeleteWatching this film with biased eyes was hard at first. Every time a Japanese citizen was killed, I had to tell myself "Their soldiers were exploding and torturing our soldiers all across the Pacific. They deserved this." But it got harder and harder to do that as it went on. Seeing people die in fiery, napalm covered hordes. Watching children die from malnutrition... That was rough. these things were very much a reality in Japan. And for the length of that movie, I said... "God. I'm ashamed to be an American." And that's a powerful thing to make someone feel.
ReplyDeleteI think the sadness of this film really drove home the reality of war. I don't believe any of us were like "Yeah! War!" after this movie... It touched all of our hearts. The ending was bittersweet. This sadness has a place. A place in our hearts.
Thank you for sharing this very poignant thoughts.
DeleteThis film also helped me appreciate my family more. After watching it, I just want to hug my wife and kids and never let them go!
ReplyDeleteI think it's cool how you made a connection between what you saw in the film and your mother's experience and that it helped you appreciate your mother more.
The burning of the dead is called cremation is the standard way to treat dead bodies in Japan.
I definitely agree with you Josh, this film has made me realize how much I love and appreciate my family. It made me understand that even if you fight with your family, you can never let them go. After this movie, I wanted to cry so much! I'm a lot more greatful when it comes to my family because of this, and its crazy how that turns out. It's crazy how a movie can impact your life so much, it makes you change the way you see things. I am definitely not the one to support war, but I'm not going to criticize and say how much I hate the American military, I don't think what they did was okay WHAT-SO-EVER. And it's very sad we had to go through that.
ReplyDeleteGood work.
Deletei think that this movie needs to have background information before you watch it. in my opinion was is never good and this movie shows a big part of reality. it also shows how in situations like the war, that other people are involved and how terrible they suffered for other peoples actions. i feel bad for the good people that suffered during the war times and I'm glad i didn't have to be the one to live with making the choice to go to war.
ReplyDeletei love the small details that were in this movie, like when Setsuko died and Seita put the things she loved most with her. it was a very sad movie but i also thought it was good and full of emotion and detail.
Good work. I like the small details too.
DeleteC.J. Barrett:
ReplyDeleteAs horrible as it is to think of it, something similar to what these kids have gone through happened in World War II, and it was the U.S.'s fault (I find it funny that the United States is shortened to "us" in this context") and probably is still happening. (though now its reasonably less our military's fault) The value of us watching this film is simple, it shows us what people in this position go through, and its like living in their shoes for a day, to experience what they experience. I think that any future copies of this movie to be sold should come with a giant neon sign explaining the Golden rule...
All the small routines portrayed in the film contributes to my previous paragraph, it lets us see what people had to do in order to survive, and it drew out enough sympathy to put most of the class on the verge of, or into tears.
Great comments, C.J.! I like what you have to say about the Golden Rule.
DeleteWhen I first started watching this movie, I was unsure what the security guard at the train station meant when he said, "We have another one." I was afraid the boy was dead, but I wasn't sure how we'd get a movie out of a boy dying within the first 5 minutes. I didn't know that was the present time and the rest of the movie was in the past. After I realized that, everything seemed to be okay. They had a cute little family- mom, son, and daughter- at home while their father was out at war. They had this cheery hopefulness to them that made the movie seem really sweet and lovely, but it was wrong. The beginning of the movie gave me false hope.
ReplyDeleteI felt horrible watching this family fall apart knowing that the death of Seita and Setsuko's mom was because of the American military. It opens your eyes to how much blood has been shed because of America. We have a dark past because we can't solve disputes. Instead, we resort to violence and war. Setsuko's death wasn't caused by bombs dropped by the Americans, but it was indirectly their fault. They destroyed their home, killed their mother, and left a little boy to care for his sister by himself- making him resort to stealing from other people to get her well again and he took beatings for the food he tried to retrieve for her. It makes me think of America as evil.
I feel the everyday routine of Seita and Setsuko was to show how they struggled after they lost their mother and to slowly show how, day by day, their health went down the drain. Setsuko was skin and bones the day she died. She had sores all over her body that burned in the heat of the day. Seita, I noticed, was a bit hasty when he got near food. You could see he was worried about Setsuko, but he was also really quick to shovel food in his mouth as fast as he could. I know Seita was trying, but I think if he took less food for himself before taking food for Setsuko, he could have saved her.
The whole movie was an emotional rollercoaster. When Seita's lying alone covered in dirt at the train station- sad. When the family is together and the colors are bright and cheerful- happy. When the bombs start falling and their mother dies- sad. When they get taken in by their aunt- happy. When the aunt starts treating the kids like crap after everything they've been through- sad and frustrating. When they go to the beach- happy. Then just about everything after that is terribly sad, as well.
This movie is hands-down the saddest I've ever seen. It's amazing and powerful, and it sends a great message, but it was so sad. I have never witnessed something so terribly sad.
A well articulated and detailed response. Good work, Katie!
Delete-Randi Michelle :3
ReplyDeleteThis. Movie. What can I say...I can't even describe how sad this movie was for me and how it touched my heart. It made me appreciate life so much more and made me remember how lucky I am to have a safe and happy family, and that we aren't going through something as terrible as this. This movie is one of the few that made me cry, ever. I know Japan did a lot of terrible things to America as well, but in the moment of watching this movie, it made me sick. I felt disgusted to be part of a country that would do such horrible things to innocent people, to have them suffer like this. Nobody deserves to watch their charred and poorly bandaged maggot infested mother die, nobody deserves to watch their little sister slowly starve to death, then eventually having to cremate her themselves, and watch her body slowly burn. It made me think what I would do in that situation. I honestly don't think I could live with myself after seeing my own mom like that, then later bringing myself to setting one of my sister's corpses on fire and not crying to the point where I could barely breathe. After watching this movie, I randomly came across this video on Youtube, and had to watch it. Holy crap, it's like a different side to Grave of the Fireflies, like what happened to a different kid when the bombing happened.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=BfJZ6nwxD38
This whole topic..just makes me extremely sad. I just feel like I should go up to every family that was effected by this war and never stop apologizing for what they went through. :(
So, I watched the link you sent and it was really hard to watch but important to watch. War sucks. I don't know what else to say ....
DeleteSuck.
-Randi
DeleteCrazy, right??? I thought it was SO sad!! D:
This is one of those movies that leaves me not knowing what to say. I felt stunned after watching this.
ReplyDeleteI've always felt like what America did in Japan was wrong. The bombings are something I feel like can't be forgive. The force used in the war was unnecessary to me.
The fireflies symbolize the short lived life of the mother, Setsuko, and Seita. Especially the mother's death. I noticed that Setsuko and Seita were the happiest with their mother and the fireflies.
Even though this film was animated the everyday little details in this movie made it more real.
I honestly just don't really know what to say about this movie. I didn't have a strong emotional reaction to this movie like most people did.
That's cool that you responded differently. Phenomenology.
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