This Studio Ghibli animated classic also happens to be one of the saddest movies ever made - a sentiment shared by late film critic Roger Ebert, who also hailed it as one of the greatest of all war films. The plot focuses on two Japanese siblings living in Kobe during World War II, and their associated struggle for survival as their hometown succumbs to American bombings. Watch this one, and the likelihood is that you'll never forget it. Still relatively under-seen when compared to better known Ghibli films, such as Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away, Grave of the Fireflies is the kind of picture that deserves to be seen by absolutely everyone - if not just for its beautiful and haunting animation, but for what it has to say about the innocent victims of war (and its ending will haunt you forever). If you haven't seen it yet, don't put it off any longer; this is essential viewing.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
