Grave of the Fireflies: A Symphony of Suffering and Hope

"If you can see the fading beauty of my world, you can experience the happiness you have now." 」

"Brilliant glow, born in rotten grass, is no greater than the vastness of the moonlight; at the end of the summer, it is extinguished by the autumn rain and frost, and it is like the infinity of the moon." On a silent summer night, the evening breeze blows softly, and the grass on the riverbank is surrounded by several fluorescent strips of light that have suddenly disappeared, flickering and confusing.

In the film, fireflies and candy cans have appeared many times, fireflies represent the good memories of Kiyota and Setsuko's childhood, it brings endless hope to people who suffered in the war, it is the faith and strength that supports Kiyota and Setsuko in the tragic years, the tomb of fireflies also symbolizes the burial of beautiful and childhood memories, and candy is loved by his sister, candy candy can is the symbol of his sister, until the last moment of life, Kiyota took it with him, suggesting his reluctance and nostalgia for his sister.

From the very beginning, the film renders a strong atmosphere of misery.

In the crowded station, a ragged teenager lay on the ground, dying, clutching in his arms a worn-out candy box filled with unknown white powder. There were a lot of pedestrians passing by, but they all just glanced contemptuously and then turned to leave...

"On the night of September 21, 2020, I died."

When the quiet and beautiful fireworks meet the overwhelming firelight, Kiyota and Setsuko's peaceful life is broken by the sudden war, the once gentle and beautiful mother died of being injured by a bomb, looking at the bandage wrapped around her mother's body, Kiyota felt a deep helplessness. He resolutely chose to carry all his sorrows alone and hold up a clear sky for his sister on the chaotic ruins.

The candy in the jar, he had been reluctant to eat, was to keep his sister, and when her sister fell ill due to lack of nutrition, Qingta risked being caught stealing sugar cane to supplement her sister's nutrition. Her brother's kindness to Setsuko, Setsuko also all remembered in her heart, she learned to sew clothes, helped her brother decorate the "new home" together, the war kept them away from innocence, forced to learn to grow. In this war, the sincere friendship between the brothers and sisters is even more precious.

When Setsuko picked up the firefly corpse, crystal tears couldn't help but slip from her eyes, "Why did the fireflies die so quickly?" Her sister's words reminded Qingta of her mother, who had died, and her young and strong soul was once again shocked. Life is like a fire that is clearly extinguished in war, fleeting, fragile and vulnerable. The sister told her brother in a calm tone that she had learned the news of her mother's death, and that this little girl, who used to cry, had slowly learned to accept everything.

In this war, the good and evil of human nature are further highlighted, and family affection becomes more indifferent and distant. In the face of death, adult behavior is commonplace and insensitive. The once friendly and gentle relatives were exposed, and the harsh and mean face and the constant cynicism forced the brothers and sisters to choose to leave.

Due to the double torment of hunger and disease, Jiezi finally fell, with a smile and satisfaction, no complaints, no pain.

"It was a warm time and space, no war, no hunger, no human warmth, only a little fireworks dotted with the cute face of Jiezi."

At the end of the film, the fire of Qingtai's life is extinguished like a glimmer of fireflies, the strength and courage that he once pretended to be desperate to take care of his sister completely disappeared, and with the discouragement when he learned the news that his father had died for a long time, he finally gained relief at this moment...

We live in a world that is not at peace, remember the refugee delegation at the Tokyo Olympics?

A country has been plagued by war and turmoil, but there are still people who are running on the ruins of the dawn for their dreams and for their own country. They trekked through mountains and stood on the Olympic field, just to prove to the world that their country still existed. They have endured war, but they are still full of hope.

The film ends in tragedy, giving us a clearer understanding of war and suffering: peace is not easy to come by.

"Are you willing to spend your whole life waiting and then taking care of this light?" Even if you know it might disappear? ”