Grave of the Fireflies - "SPOILERS"

[Awaken to Immortality]

Okay, so I decided to get all of Miyazaki's work so that included Grave of the Fireflies. I was "warned" that it was a tearjerker. But I actually found myself not really emotionally involved in the story at all.

I found it to be more of a "nobody cares about us and they'll let us just die" movie than a "Strive for existance above all odds and end up with loss" type. Yes I feel sorry for Seita and Setsuko in the fact that they lost their mother and having to try and survive the air raids and all, but I feel sorry for all of the japanese people suffering from the air raids and losing people they loved. I also feel that Seita made a lot of bad choices that contributed to their poor existance and eventual death. It wasn't like him an his sister were the only ones suffering from the air raids, it wasn't like they were the only ones to lose people they loved, yet the story plays as though they are the only ones suffering and everyone else is just being callous and uncaring.

My biggest question is why didn't he pull the yen out of the bank sooner to buy the chicken and watermelon instead of waiting until Setsuko was so malnutritioned she couldn't eat? Why didn't he while he was with his aunt, try to help out more, so that maybe his aunt would have more respect for them and they could stay in a safer environment than trying to live completely on their own when he didn't have any way to survive.

I realize not everyone will agree with me - and that I may again be seen as being harsh, but I would really like to get other peoples opinions since this was such an acclaimed movie yet I found it really very uninspiring.  

[Awaken to Immortality]

thank you for your opinion -it is helpful. especially since I'm glad that I'm not the only one who saw that the adults weren't being especially mean to them. I understand that he was a child and bound to make mistakes, and I wholeheartedly understand the tragedy of war. I'm glad I bought the movie even if it wasn't emotionally riveting.

I especially thank you for clearing up that it wasn't Miyazaki - I guess, I just assumed, along with everyone I was with in the mall, that it was Miyazaki because it was Studio Ghibli. I'm a much bigger fan of My Neighbor Totoro.

It's kind of funny...or not...but I don't get emotionally involved in movies about tragedy as much as I do about selflessness. I can get all choked up watching Pokemon, but not watching Grave of the Fireflies.

Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro are my ultimate favorites - and then Howls Moving castle and most recently added Nausicaa.  

[Saya Ravencroft]

War is one of those things that can lead to famines and even worse. It is cruel and unfair to all who are in an area that has a war going on there.  

[Travis III]

It's those scenes at the beginning and end with Seita and Setsuko's ghosts that really made me cry.  

[Spheren]

That movie made me bawl my eyes out... Especially the ending with Seita's and Setsuko's ghosts overlooking the new Japan.  

[srestar]

It's such a sad movie. And yes, other people were suffering too, but they have to focus on the story of one family in order for the audience to build a relationship with the characters. If they focused on the people in general.. it's sad yes.. but it wouldn't inspire as much emotion.