Grave of the Fireflies Live Action
Grave of the Fireflies (Hotaru no Haka) makes it to the big screen again this time as a live action movie this weekend.
I got so distressed watching the Studio Ghibli anime version that I stopped watching half way though. Has anybody seen the original anime?
Live action trailer below.
Original anime below...
Plot and spoiler below taken from Wikipedia.
Taking place toward the end of World War II in Japan, Grave of the Fireflies is the poignant tale of the relationship between two orphaned children, Seita (清太) and his younger sister Setsuko (節子). The children lose their mother in the firebombing of Kobe, and their father in service to the Imperial Japanese Navy, and as a result they are forced to try to survive amidst widespread famine and the callous indifference of their countrymen (some of whom are their own extended family members).
The movie begins in Sannomiya Station, and shows the second main character: Seita, dying from starvation there in rags. A janitor comes and digs through his things, and finds a candy tin, containing Setsuko's ashes. He throws it out, and from there springs the spirit of Setsuko, Seita and a group of fireflies. The two spirits provide narrative throughout the story. The film is, in effect, an extended flashback to Japan, at the end of World War II during the Kobe firebombings. Setsuko and Seita, the two siblings and protagonists, are left to secure the house and their belongings, allowing their mother, suffering from a heart complaint to proceed to a bomb shelter. They are caught off-guard by a batch of bombs dropped in their vicinity, although they survive unscathed.
Their mother, however, is caught in the air raid and dies from burn wounds. Having nowhere else to go, Setsuko and Seita go to live with their aunt, and write letters to their father. On the second day that they stay there, Seita goes out to get the left over supplies which he had buried in the ground to preserve before the bombing which killed their mother. He gives all of it to his aunt, but hides a small tin of fruit drops.
This tin of fruit drops later proves a recurrent icon in the film. Following cruelty from their aunt, who gives them barely enough food, insults them and sells their mother's kimonos for rice, which she keeps for herself, Seita and Setsuko finally decide to go and live in an old, abandoned bomb shelter. Gradually, they begin to run out of rice, and Setsuko begins to starve. In desperation, Seita removes all the money from their mother's bank account, when he learns of his father's death. He buys a large quantity of food, and rushes back to the shelter, where he finds Setsuko hallucinating.
She is sucking marbles which she believes are fruit drops and offers him 'rice balls' which are really only made out of mud. Finally, she dies of starvation. Seita cremates her, using supplies donated to him by a farmer and leaves her ashes in the fruit tin, which he carries with his father's photograph, until his death.
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Student, Tech
I love that movie, it was very good. I believe it's one of Ghibli's best.
I watched the original to the end... it is very depressing. But perhaps you should finish the movie, Danny. It is a good movie.
If the live action is as depressing, I wouldn't watch it.
How can any normal person finish watching the movie, tell anyone else to finish watching it too? The whole movie just get from Bad to worse to so bloody sad you want to rip the disk out of the player and crush it so no one else would have the misfortune to ever watch such a depressing movie....
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It's a beautiful and very meaningful movie. I watched it all the way to the end too. I cried, I didn't sleep that night and I felt depressed for the next few days, but after all that it had left a big mark on me and made me question things I had never thought to question before.
I think it is a very important movie for people to see because of the emotions it forces you through. It helps you to learn those emotions from people that don't really exist rather than having to take all of that burden later in life when similar pains present themselves to you.
Anyone that hasn't seen it already should definitely watch it, but just be warned; you WILL be depressed by that movie.
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Agreed.
It's a masterpiece, nothing more and i'm sure the live action is gonna be good too. Sad but good.
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Watch "Nobody knows." Now THAT is a depressing film as well.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobody_Knows_(2004_film)
Programmer
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Danny you are the only other person I know (other than myself) who admits to not being able to stand the movie all the way to the end. I remember being too disturbed to complete the movie too.
ghibli's best omg...
watched the anime movie,really saddening in the end.
will be on my watch list too...and gonna watch it with my family
Dirty Gentleman
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Oh damn. If this live action movie comes even close to the emotional impact of the anime I will be a sobbing mess. *ahem* I mean, I will help my gf wipe away her tears. Not mine... I'll be too busy smashing bricks with my bare fists because of my manliness.
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lolol ^^;
Danny, this is no laughing matter. Do Not! I repeat: Do Not watch this movie at all cost especially when you are in one of those gloomy spell days.
This movie should come with a warning label against people suffering from depression to watch it.
On the other hand, if you find someone is irritatingly cheerful, make them watch it just to wipe that cheery sunshine off their face.
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Correct me if I'm wrong, fellow otakus... but isn't there already a live action something on Hotaru no Haka?
I remember lots of people saying it wasn't as good as the anime.
Anyways, watched the Studio Ghibli anime, and as most, cried a river.
Very sad, but also very good movie. One of those movies everyone should watch... important lessons right there.
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could be but this one is out in cinemas in Japan this weekend - tis no oldie.
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It was a movie for tv.
Where is the humanity? Like the anime is not enough, they have to make a TV movie and now a full Cinema budget movie version???
It's so sad...just the reminder of it make me feel down the whole week!
NOOOOOOOooooo!!!!
freelance digital artist
One of the ever best story that i have watched so far , i highly recommend it (esp the original anime movie). I even consider it as one of the epics lining from Akiba and others. Its one emotional drama w/ an IMPACT~ one such dramatic bomb~
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Oh good. I almost cried during the anime. I'll probably cry during the live action. The casting for the kids looks really well done too.
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The first time I watched it at a screening, I cried from begining to end ;_; and din have tissues with me (oops)
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oops hit submit too soon, well at the time my kid sis was about the little girl's age too =_= so it hit me really hard =_=
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I had to skip most of it as I found myself getting all teary-eyed too many times ;_; I only managed to watch about 10mins in total.
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I have seen it once, it was... yes a very good movie but it did shake me deeply, not to mention i cried a lot... it was maybe a bit worse then the CLANNAD movie, not much but i cried heavyly at both of them.
Those two movies, i will never watch them again - at least not alone, it's very depressing material indeed. :(
Now just thinking about it leaves me in a gloomy mood. ><
free lance otaku, full time Protector of Peace.
i believe i heard about the live action movie years ago.
student
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The trailer seems good, but I wish the girl would be more cute.
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i saw it - very moving
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I don't need to be depressed even more
Student/Artist
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I'm sure the live-action movie is going to make me cry even more than Miyazaki's version...
流浪人
The anime was directed by Takahata Isao, good friend and colleague to Miyazaki Hayao, and director of other notable works, such as "Heisei Tanuki Gassen Pon Poko"...
Photographer/Night Auditor
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Do they give you a small package of tissues when you buy the tickets because you'll be needing them. This will be on the watch list for sure.
Pokemon master
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The first time I saw this I was 8 years old. (The library foolishly put it in the children's section because they figured animation=for kids.) But yeah, depressing movie indeed.
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The movie isn't a Miyazaki film. Just for those who are mistaken, it was directed by Isao Takahata.
I think it's a really beautiful movie, and I cried, hard, through a good portion of it.
The previous LA version that was pointed out above was a made for TV film in 2005.
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woah. i thought the live action was out long ago (I saw a few torrents of the live action O_o)
I liked it but I sort of wished to have watched it in Japanese. Even my bf admitted to crying over it....but yeah it was sort of disturbing...still reading vivid accounts of the holocaust was more disturbing to me (I hope Im stating this in a non-offensive manner)
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I hate watching movies that's gonna have definite sad ending, so I skipped watching anime version. Probably do same for the live action version as well -_-
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The original anime is one of the best movie about ww2 that i saw.
Interesting to see that so many people actually skipped some of the scenes because they were too sad. Still anyone who haven't seen Grave of the Fireflies should stop reading this right now and go buy that dvd. It's one of Takahata's greatest movies and that is a LOT. To me Takahata is the genius in Ghibli Studios and everyone should really see My Neighbors the Yamadas, Pom Poko, Grave of the Fireflies and Only Yesterday. They are all very different types of films, but all of them are just made of gold. Only Yesterday is a rare josei movie and also one of the best slice of life animes ever. Just go see them all dammit! ^^
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I'll second Only Yesterday; it's one of my favorite Ghibli movies.
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I tried to buy a box set of Ghibli with "My Neighbours the Yamadas", but I just couldn't find them. I've got all the others though, I really enjoyed Pom Poko, I know it was a little sad, but fun too! Enjoyed Only Yesterday, and of course Grave of the Fireflies. Thinking about it, I really recommend watching all of Grave of the Fireflies if you can stomach it, its life changing.
Wow, this anime really brought my memories back. I remembered watching this in a movie theater; I didn't really know what was going on in the final scenes (i.e. Setsuko sucking blood out of her fingers), the ending made me cry.
college slacker
Thank but no thank, I'll pass. The anime too vivid that it make me depress for day.
流浪人
The first time I saw this was at my aunt's house in Hokkaido back in 1990. They were showing it on TV, and she figured I'd like it since it was anime. She ended up leaving the room after the first 15 minutes. Having survived WW II as a child, the movie hit a little too close to home.
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One of those most gut wrenching movies I have ever seen. Even thinking about this anime brings some tears to my eyes.
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There was already a live-action adaptation of the original anime movie, starring Matsushima Nanako as the aunt of Seita and Setsuko. The made-for-TV movie special was told from the viewpoints of the aunt instead of the siblings, depicting how the war changed her from a caring woman to a 'heartless' one due to the circumstances.
The anime movie still touched me more...and I definitely recommend people who have not watched it, or who could not complete it, to finish the film...despite the boxes of tissues you might use up. :P
Hell, I got scolded by my female friend just for recommending the movie to her...she would just start crying whenever she hears the theme song of the anime movie...haha...
Anyway, many of the people I know who watched it regard it as a pro-Japan movie made to make people sympathize with the Japanese in the WWII.
For me, the movie just taught me one thing: One side may win a battle, but no one wins a war. (Sorry for possible lousy phrasing)
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I watched it like 5 years ago... that movie is a blur now, I don't really remember much from it. Maybe I'll just watch the live-action so I can recall what happens... Don't think I was distressed by the film though.
Digital animation
The original was a beautiful film, had a very "Dog of Flanders" sadness factor to it.
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Seems like those who watched the animation were too depressed to watch it again. I have this animation but i think i'll pass watching it.
Student
Gah!
I remember trying to watch that movie a few years back.
Could not even get through it, made it about half way through too.
:(
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Bought the dvd years ago, watch it once and never touch it again. No, its really an awesome animation but i can't stand going thru the heart-wrenching experience of watching it all over again.
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Yes, i watched in my history class actually back in high school, made me depressed the rest of the day.
illustrator
I've seen the anime and got my heart broken...I've read the book too, very interesting ....
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I watched that movie and it made me cry...
And I feel grateful with what I have now...
study
i c the anime long time ago it was so sad
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I had a long rant written about Japan during the 2nd War, but I deleted it. I'd rather not start, and this is not the right place to do so. A lot of people suffered on both sides, even the "bad guys".
In any case, read "Barefoot Gen", people. It's a semi-autobiographical account of the Manga artist's life after the two bombs dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
I hate being serious... But i think of my fandom of Japan in this way: Forgive, but never forget.
Student of LIFE!
I can't stop the tears man!! hopefully thats how i would be reacting after the movie.
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I don't think I will be watching this. I'm tired of crying everytime I put in a DVD (recently watched "Nobody Knows")
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What I didn't know after watching it the first time, that it was based off of a true story(Nobody Knows).
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I saw this movie several years after its release. Although I didn't cry, I was quite saddened by it that I have not planned to rewatch it. I may rewatch it when I want to, but due to the fact that I hear more and more trajedies and sad stories in real life they seem to have started to dampen my sensitivities or feelings.
Student
The anime version was quite disturbing and didn't really enjoy watching it. It wasn't bad but not my type of movie.
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Grave of the Fireflies = BAWWWWW
One of the anime that gave me a teary eye TAT
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I was like "I know what's in the bag" when I watched this anime but still managed to watch through the end....yes...very depressing....I can't breathe well...
must watch lucky star....need antidote.....
Student and full-time otaku
Great flick. Really sad, but also very good. Shows that anime definetely does not equal cartoons
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If the anime is anything to go by, I will be reduced from a human to a bubbling puddle of tears. I really enjoyed it though, and this one looks like it will also probably be a good watch. I'll just have to remember to keep the industrial size box of tissues handy. ^_^
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Nooo, they're going to kill that little girl. (T T.
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I watch the anime version of Grave of the Fireflies every year or two and it never fails to make me cry. I am usually only sad for a day or two and then bounce back, but it is a very rare anime that will make cry. Even rarer for an anime to make me cry consistently.
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Oh no.... TT__________TT
More crying, yes?
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I was 9 or 10 when I saw it. The only thing I remember is that I cried at the end... Very depressing indeed. T.T
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Great film, hard to get around to though. Not exactly something you'd watch to pass the time. I mean, what are you supposed to tell your friends? "Hey, dude, if you have some time, go watch this movie so you can feel depressed for the next month. You'll love it. And by that I mean, 'be sad.'"
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Great movie, sad movie. That's about the best way to say it lol.
-1
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quite a bawww-fest this movie is. saw the animated version only once and i couldn't stomach watching it a second time. so sad.
G-pla builder
Tell you the truth this is the one and only movie/anime I have ever watched that's made me cry every time I see it (going on three now) I don't know why "I" a 6'3" 200lbs man can sob like a girl, when Seita figures out Setsuko is going to die, water flows from my face.
I think it gave me a real face to the horrors of war in Japan. But to do a live action movie In my mind is wrong. they can't give you the emotional impact that is needed.
and if they do then I'm staying away from this film.
machine operator
I'd have to call it: landmark anime; must see. It's a tough thing to watch, but it's very well done. anyone wishing to truly understand WWII should see this. shows the other side of war; something few Americans understand at all. I even have a tin of that candy, which is made the same after all these decades.
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is a very sad ending, it is a very good movie, but I not like it much.
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So sad but such a good movie it is. I'm sure to watch this version as well.
illustrator
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i couldn't finish watching the anime(or even begin to watch, it starts out already 'over'). i'm sure it was a masterpiece but it's waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too depressing. the live action movies would hinge on the child actors, and i can't imagine a child actor that gifted to pull it off. not to mention the trauma to these poor kids, having to watch the anime or the finished movie.
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I hope the live action movie lives up to the anime version since the anime was really good. You should watch and finish it danny. It's one of ghibli's best. One of the most emotional anime I've ever watched.
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I Loved that movie...
Although it was very depressing.
Student.
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When I first watched this I think I was 13... I cried so much. The only other time I cried during an anime was one of the Sailor Moon Movies (I think S)
I hate the film for being so sad, but it is an amazing film. Miyazaki is a brilliant man.
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Watched fully too, is not depressing, is reality, when people talks about war they forget is like that.
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Danny ! You must watch the rest of that film !!!
It's one of the most important parts about living in Japan (historically).
It is sad, but sometimes you have to learn history the hard way..
Much of what is written about Japan overseas is a lie.
student
0.o seems like a sad but good movie judging by the comments. definately wanna see it for myself now...
Business
I've watched it lots of times.. One of my favourite movies.. Brilliant!