The devastating impact of war through the eyes of children creates one of cinema's most profound animated experiences, standing as Studio Ghibli's most sobering and realistic work.

• Grave of the Fireflies (1988) is directed by Isao Takahata, co-founder of Studio Ghibli
• The film follows 14-year-old Seita and his younger sister Setsuko as they struggle to survive after losing their mother in WWII Japan
• Originally released as a double feature with My Neighbor Totoro, creating a stark contrast in tone and subject matter
• Based on a semi-autobiographical short story where the author survived but lost his sister to malnutrition
• Currently holds 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and is widely considered one of the greatest war films ever made
• Recently became available on Netflix after decades of limited accessibility
• The complex portrayal of Seita's character sparks debates about responsibility versus impossible circumstances

Letterbox'd Synopsis: In the final months of World War II, 14-year-old Seita and his sister Setsuko are orphaned when their mother is killed during an air raid in Kobe, Japan. After a falling out with their aunt, they move into an abandoned bomb shelter. With no surviving relatives and their emergency rations depleted, Seita and Setsuko struggle to survive.

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International Feature: Grave of the Fireflies

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