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Grave of the Fireflies

2005·Movie
2h 28min
76
GreatGoodWatch score

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No stream option in US yet.

Grave of the Fireflies fingerprint

Strong craft, striking style, no humor.

Energy

Tense

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension7
  • Violence5
  • Spectacle4

Heart

Deeply moving and profoundly sad

Much of it is about family and growing up.

  • Pathos10
  • Melancholy10
  • Family Dynamics9

Humor

Serious throughout

  • Wit & Wordplay1
  • Situational Comedy0
  • Physical Comedy0

World

History, war, and family

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion9
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Novelty7

Craft

Standout direction, performances, and characters

  • Direction10
  • Acting9
  • Character Depth9

Style

Standout cinematography, sound design, and editing

A distinctive visual signature.

  • Cinematography9
  • Sound Centrality9
  • Editing8

Who it's for

AdultsPartner WatchSolo WatchThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You want something to laugh atYou need an uplifting moodYou want fast pacing

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About

Hisako loses her home in Tokyo to Allied bombing. With her husband fighting somewhere in Asia, she and her two children evacuate to a suburb of Kobe, where they share a house with Hisako's cousin, Kyoko. Kobe is bombed and Kyoko is killed. Hisako is forced to take care of Kyoko's two children in addition to her own, but there is not enough food for everyone.
WWII DramaTragic StorySiblings' StruggleAnti-War NarrativeProfound SadnessAnimated MasterpieceBleak & HeartbreakingSurvival StoryEmotional DevastationHistorical Accuracy

Crew

Directed by:

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Grave of the Fireflies

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Grave of the Fireflies legally?

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Is Grave of the Fireflies worth watching?

76
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 77/100 (IMDb 7.4). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Grave of the Fireflies rated?

ViolenceDisturbing imagery

Content advisories: violence and disturbing imagery.

How long is Grave of the Fireflies?

2 h 28 min

Grave of the Fireflies runs 2 h 28 min.

What language is Grave of the Fireflies in?

Japanese

It was made in Japanese. Produced in Japan.

What tropes does Grave of the Fireflies use?

Wham LineIdiot BallThe World Mocks Your LossBody HorrorBookendsPlease, Don't Leave MePassed in Their SleepShoot the Shaggy DogWould Hurt a ChildForegone ConclusionHope SpotNothing Is Scarierand 95 more

TV Tropes lists 107 storytelling tropes for Grave of the Fireflies, including Wham Line, Idiot Ball, The World Mocks Your Loss.