GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES (1988) ¢ ¢ ¢
D: Isao Takahata
As American planes firebomb Japan in the last days of World War Two, a young boy and his kid sister on the ground below struggle to escape starvation. This is an animated film, but you won't find a minion, a caped superhero, or a friendly talking animal anywhere. It's a haunting look at the horror of war, with burned bodies, mass graves, casual cruelty and a stark depiction of death by malnutrition. It might have more impact if parts of it weren't quite so cute, but it gets the message across, ending on a note of tragedy and transcendence. Keep a handkerchief handy, just in case.
