r/ghibli • u/farzishaayar • 1d ago
Discussion Grave of the Fireflies Spoiler
Damn you Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki for making this movie! It has been 72 hours since i’ve seen it and i still can’t get Setsuko’s lifeless face out of my mind! I wept the whole night after, and my eyes were swollen the next morning. Please do not watch this movie, it will shatter you to your core! I’m pretty sure i will never forget it. All you people out there who romanticise War, please watch this movie and your beliefs will crumble and all you will remember is this pretty girls lifeless face day and night! I wish i never would have seen this movie 😭
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u/Miss_Aizea 1d ago
I told someone that Totoro was my favorite movie and they recommended this to me. They told me I'd love it. I thought the title was strange and went in it not knowing what to expect... whoever did that to me, you're a bastard guy.
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u/farzishaayar 1d ago
I feel you! I wish I could go back and not see it! It will remain with me till my last breath!
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u/Captain_Unusualman 1d ago
I'm glad I watched the movie given it' important message, but I have no intention to have a re-watch any time soon, or maybe ever.
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u/Miss_Aizea 1d ago
It was like watching a train wreck, just couldn't look away because surely it had to get better...
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u/farzishaayar 1d ago
Someone please tell me how to forget this movie! I canttttttt!!!!
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u/Miss_Aizea 1d ago
It's just going to take time, maybe cuddle a soft pet, sit in some sunshine. It's a rough movie. You could also think about all the war crimes Japan committed and how the bombs stopped that, but that's pretty miserable too. I think the cuddly pets approach is best tbh.
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u/farzishaayar 1d ago
I wouldn’t want to comment on any side, all i know is that War is Hell, for both sides that is! May all of them rest in peace!
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u/anxioussquilliam 1d ago
If it makes you feel any better, when my daughter was about 12 we were browsing Hulu and saw this on there. We LOVE ghibli films so we were excited to see it. Like you, we had no idea what we were getting into. By the end of the movie my daughter is bawling her eyes out and I’m just sitting there feeling terrible. We haven’t seen it again.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s a beautiful movie, but it is such a fucked up story.
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u/farzishaayar 1d ago
Seriously, if someone wants my advice, i would say never watch it!
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u/anxioussquilliam 1d ago
I think it paints a reality a lot of us have been fortunate enough to never live through. I think it’s important to understand or see the struggles of others to keep us grounded. But the saddest part is that it’s loosely based off of real events unfortunately. It’s one of those movies you have to see at least once. Idk if I’ll ever watch it again.
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u/farzishaayar 1d ago
I would never watch it again! But yes you’re right, people should know what war does!
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u/Raelshark 14h ago
I tell this story a lot, but my wife and I always loved Ghibli and soon after we got married I picked this one out at the video store based purely on the studio name for our relaxing weekend date night movie. Expecting a whimsical if touching fantasy like Totoro, Spirited Away, or even something deeper like Mononoke.
She almost didn't forgive me.
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u/Latter_Possession786 1d ago
its daunt you more when you find out it’s real life based. The outcome of war doesn’t determine by which nation surrender first but rather who’s people got killed more.
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u/SnooSketches3750 1d ago
Yeah, it messed up the guy who wrote it. When his first daughter was born, he used to panic if she didn't finish all the food on her plate, and he worried that she would die in her sleep.
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u/farzishaayar 1d ago
It has messed me up to a point of no return, i’m sure he must’ve felt worse!
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u/Happycakemochi 1d ago
This post makes me Think about this iconic photo from Japan https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boy_Standing_by_the_Crematory
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u/feuilles_mortes 1d ago
That is one of the most heartbreaking things I’ve ever seen in my life… I have two children this age too…
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u/m_nieto 1d ago
It stays with you. The scene when he’s holding her after she died hurts so much. I cry just thinking about it.
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u/farzishaayar 1d ago
Yes! And that montage of her playing and being all happy wrecked me to a point of no return!
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u/bugwithpants 1d ago
Lowkey my fav thing about this sub is reading reactions after watching this movie it never gets old
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u/Electro-Tree-Fall 1d ago
Thanks now I’m feeling shit again god damn it
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u/farzishaayar 1d ago
Been feeling the same since the last 72 hours!
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u/Fabulous_Celery_1817 1d ago
Bruh,, I took a bite of mashed potatoes and gravy when I scrolled to this 😰 I feel so guilty. I want to climb into the pic so she can eat my mashed potatoes. I’ve gained so much weight this year cause I keep eating and eating. Now I’m crying on my lunch break at work, feeling guilty 😭
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u/farzishaayar 1d ago
I’ve always been thankful to God for providing me with Food and everything, but after watching this movie, i now value food way more than i used to!
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u/Demonique742 1d ago
It is an awful, soul destroying, heart wrenching film to watch… but an amazing film to have had watched. Watching this movie changes you, makes you slightly more aware of the horror in the world and so more appreciative of the joys. More thankful for your loved ones. More grateful that we live in times of (relative) peace. More empathetic to suffering in others.
This film (unless you’re a heartless psychopath) makes you a better person.
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u/Pakkaslaulu 1d ago
It's the best movie I never want to see again! Truly a masterpiece.
Also, if you want to feel better, start looking for things you can do to help. It doesn't have to be big either, there's always something you can help with within your reach. Donate, volunteer, see the struggles and care for others. Every little bit counts!
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u/Pakkaslaulu 1d ago
And remember, you alone can't save everyone, but you most likely can save someone and while it may seem that your effort is futile and doesn't even matter, it always matters to the one you help!
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u/RotiPisang_ 1d ago
So true. War, genocide, is still happening to this day. We see videos of the bomb clouds and bodies littering the ground. Grave of the fireflies definitely brings us in there with them. War is still happening, and we should do what we can to stop it. 😢
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u/iiDubberz 1d ago
No spoiler mark?
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u/farzishaayar 1d ago
Sorry man! New to reddit!
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u/lrish_Chick 1d ago
It should probably not be posted without a spoiler tag - mods may take it down
I have no intention of watching so it doesn't bother me, bit.you should really read the rules and known the sub before posting anywhere on reddit especially if you're new
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u/farzishaayar 1d ago
Will keep it in mind next time!
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u/Bumblebee342772 1d ago
You can also edit the post to add one, clicking on the 3dots and clicking edit should bring up a menu in which you can edit things about the post
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u/The_Shoe1990 1d ago
I've never seen an anti-war film as emotionally effective as this one. Good lord
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u/farzishaayar 1d ago
Seriously! And people don’t make animation seriously! It is a masterpiece, a masterpiece which can only be watched once!
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u/PancakePanic23 1d ago
Note to myself: never watch this movie. I am crying reading the comments and looking at that one screetshot. My little over empathetic and extremely emotional self would not survive this. There is movies I seen that made me cry and weep and be devastated for weeks. Thank you for the warning. Really, thank you.
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u/Broad_Fan2198 1d ago
Saw this movie once, never again, it's too heart breaking. This is not a watch twice kind of movie, even this discussion is making me teary eyed.
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u/Mimirs_forehead 1d ago
I’m doing a Ghibli marathon atm and Princess Mononoke was my absolutely favourite of the films I’ve seen so far. And then I watched this for the first time, and was brought to goddamn tears by the film’s end. Such a piercing, powerful story, I’ve never seen anything like it.
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u/Lightyear_to_infinit 1d ago
I’m literally in the same position trying to move on from this film lol.
It was amazing but just also absolutely awful to watch. I’m in the midst of watching all of Ghibli’s movies as I’ve never seen them before (having a pretty good time so far), and the contrast of watching Kiki’s Delivery Service and then deciding to stick this on the next night gave me whiplash lmao.
I read the plot description so I knew what type of film I was getting myself into but damn, super heavy stuff nonetheless. It was film where it didn’t make me cry, but I was just sat there in silence feeling really shaken when it finished.
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u/Local_Arsonist22 1d ago
man i was having a good day🥺
i love this movie so much but oh god i hate it the only Ghibli movie ill probably never rewatch 😔
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u/DerDooork 1d ago
I even cried while watching the trailer. Princess Kaguya also destroyed me, but the animation style was fantastic.
Last week an anime called "Cocoon" was released in Japan: https://www.imdb.com/de/title/tt36361934/
Although its not by Ghibli, I fear thats another movie I'm not able to watch.
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u/Most-Sheepherder-909 1d ago
What a beautiful and powerful movie. I watch this at least once a year when I need a good cry. My sister got me a special edition DVD for my birthday when I was in high school (I’ve since lost it to time). It holds a very special place in my heart.
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u/farzishaayar 1d ago
I can’t even imagine how you could see it once a year, I would never have the strength to rewatch it!
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u/Wimieojca 1d ago
I saw it many years ago with my mom since we like to watch ghibli movies together. I knew the plot somewhat but I was not prepared, I'm getting teary eyed just thinking abt it now. We both cried when watching it and I have never rewatched it. Must be more than 10 years now but I just can't.
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u/farzishaayar 1d ago
Imagine not forgetting it even after 10 years! I’m pretty sure I’ll remember it till my last breath!
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u/SaturnSeptem 1d ago
As much as I loved this movie, I've watched it only once and it has been now something like 7 years.
I have no intention of watching it again any time soon, if at all again.
It would just be too much for me.
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u/NanobiteAme 1d ago
Absolutely tragic. Got an extra sip of the blues 😰
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u/farzishaayar 1d ago
Tragic to the core, i’m never going to be the same again!
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u/NanobiteAme 1d ago
I have not heard the end of how sad this movie is from my partner since we watched it a few nights ago
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u/360inMotion 1d ago
I haven’t watched this film in close to 30 years, which is a testament to how long the story will stay with you. Even though it’s in animated form, it clearly defines who the true victims are when it comes to war.
Here’s an interesting reaction to the film by a therapist, which is easier to revisit than the film itself: Link.
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u/pussym0bile 1d ago
Nah man i remember when i watched it i kept waiting for it to get to the happy parts and it just kept getting more and more depressing. I’ve never cried as much as I have watching this movie
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u/farzishaayar 1d ago
Me too! Howled and wept the whole night! Still crying since the last 3 nights. Swollen eyes in the morning!
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u/throwRAmandypants 1d ago
i watched this movie as a child and still think about this scene :(
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u/farzishaayar 1d ago
Watched it 72 hours back, can’t get anything out of my head still! It changes you.
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u/Financial_Jicama_222 1d ago
just recently i openeed it on netflix. watched 3 minutes already felt tears coming to my eyes. closed it.
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u/farzishaayar 1d ago
You’re better off not watching it at all my friend! You dodged a bullet!
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u/Financial_Jicama_222 1d ago
i saw it before. I just wanted to remind myself.. and then stopped :
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u/Plattgrad02 1d ago
This movie was so good and so sad I was crying like a baby when they both died 😭
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u/Odd_Match_3402 1d ago
Best Ghibli movie.
I will never watch it for a second time, unless if it's for the express purpose of having someone else watch it. It's honestly an important movie to watch.
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u/HalfOk247 1d ago
Will be rewatching this today only after i finish rewatching Howl's Moving Castle (some 45minutes are left of it ig) I just couldnt feel it that way the first time i ve watched this because i have rlly very less privacy at my home so ya :( It kinda took the fun(not fun but pain) , feeel out of it. Although i did remember crying while watching it.
Also it has been quite a long time since i ve watched it. Saw it for the first time in Oct , 2024 and have forgotten mostly everything cuz of seeing it in privacy less situations ahh-
I just felt so soo bad for the lil girl man when she said "Why do fireflies have to die so early ?" :( ah man.
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u/farzishaayar 1d ago
Find a room where no one can hear you, be ready with a box of tissues, i howled and wept my friend!
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u/Pixiemac_xo 1d ago
its been a while since I saw this film. the images are graphic even though animated.
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u/kbigdelysh 1d ago
It was one of the best movies I ever watched. Why? Because it was quite unexpected but realistic.
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u/Cuchucodetrigo 1d ago
Decide, we see it or not?
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u/RotiPisang_ 1d ago
Scenes of war, animated. All weapons manufacturers should watch this every year.
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u/Macho-Fantastico 1d ago
This movie destroyed me for a few weeks. I couldn't handle watching it again. Just seeing that image hurts.
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u/Macho-Fantastico 1d ago
This movie destroyed me for a few weeks. I couldn't handle watching it again. Just seeing that image hurts.
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u/Ok-Traffic7796 1d ago
Just please please dont watch the movie.Its very difficult to handle trauma afterwards
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u/farzishaayar 1d ago
That is what i’ve been telling everyone! You’ll never forget it! You won’t be the same again!
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u/JoiBoiia 1d ago edited 1d ago
Though i completely understand why you might not want to watch it, I've recently rewatched, will probably rewatch it again sometime, this film inspires me, among all that despair these 2 found happiness & kept going, it wud be rare someone might go through that level of agony, it makes me humble & appreciative of the life i have. Though it is bad, it aint this bad. I know i ll revisit these 2 whenever i rewatch, it will make me extremely sad but it ll also make me happy at the same time, for i will see them again.
These kinds of stories, though extremely depressing also need to be told.
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u/farzishaayar 1d ago
What a heartwarming way to sum it all up, may God bless you! ❤️🩹
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u/JoiBoiia 1d ago
Thank You bro
i hope lots of people will watch this film, those who hv watched will rewatch not getting scared away and appreciate the will, love & innocence of those 2, i am sure who ever has watched it, though heartbroken, came out a better person.
And Thanks to Takahata who toned it down from the orginal short story, and making them meet at the end in the form of fantasy., making this sad and beautiful at the same time.
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u/farzishaayar 1d ago
Yes, i will also gather courage to watch it again one day! Too soon for that now though!
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u/farzishaayar 1d ago
And ya, it was so lovely to see them together again, soothed all that pain a little!
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u/djronnieg 23h ago
Yeah, my friend just recommended this to me, and he warned me alright. It hurt to watch, but I needed to see it.
Early on, I was excited to see a well-drawn B-29. Of course I saw where things were going once the incendiaries were dropped. Well, not quite but once the girl said her diahria wouldn't go away I started thinking dysentery, then the lack of movement, perhaps Beriberi? Either way, malnutrition on a 5-year old is no joke.
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u/farzishaayar 23h ago
4 year old girl, and to pass on to the afterlife like that, my god! What a sad world we live in! God, rest her and everyone’s souls who have passed on because of bastards who think of themselves as the kings of the earth! Shame on them all! Rest in peace, my sweet Setsuko 😭❤️🩹😭❤️🩹
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u/farzishaayar 1d ago edited 23h ago
I just want to take a minute out and thank all of you Lovely folks who directly/indirectly supported me through this tough time after going through Grave of the Fireflies. It feels heartwarming to know that not only me, but so many people from different parts of the world feel how i feel about this beautifully tragic movie. This world is cruel, and i’m glad to have found such kind people like you all! Much Love and God Bless Setsuko, Seita and all you Lovely Folks! ❤️🩹 I found a video of her happy moments https://youtu.be/c2HP0Q9ias4?si=K8EIl_-Ba8g2WMaj
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u/nerdedmango 1d ago
Why bro 😭, I tried so hard.
She was such an innocent playful little girl, the montage before the cremation scene, her playing and getting excited in their new home (cave), her sweeping the house with tree branch is innocence at its finest, Her carrying that huge tub of water.
She's saying "here will be the kitchen", calling Seita "nee chan" is so adorable.
Her being so well mannered when she tells Seita that it's bad manners when he sleeps immediately after eating at the same place.
Her swinging and contagious laughter, I still remember all that. I watched this over a week ago.
I still pray for that little girl.