Finally watched Grave of the Fireflies, one of the most depressing films I’ve ever seen. I can see why the film has received critical acclaim, and it certainly evoked (provoked) emotion, and in particular the emotions the director intended, which by most standards makes it an excellent piece of cinema. As a piece of entertainment, it has essentially zero value, but again that’s not really a valid criticism – I was just unaware what I was letting myself in for.
There is apparently some debate as to whether the film is ‘anti-war’ ((does anyone outside the Bush administration ever describe themselves as pro-war?)), and whether the lead character is supposed to be sympathetic or not, as if these two things are exclusive. The impact of war on a society is brought home very starkly, in a way that I can’t imagine anyone would see as positive, but I was more frustrated by the lead character’s actions and inaction – which I think was the director’s goal.
Wikipedia says the original cinema release was a double-bill alongside Totoro, which sounds like just about worst pairing imaginable.
Not that I’d generally like to defend them, but to be fair, I don’t think anyone /inside/ the Bush administration would describe themselves as ‘pro-war’ in general. Maybe pro /this/ war (or ‘pro Iraq liberation…).