Grave of the Fireflies and Seita's bad descisions
Dear diary,
After seeing how the internet highly recommended Grave of the Fireflies, and how people say it's one of the most heart wrenching movie ever, I've decided, after 2 years of having this movie shoved down my throat, to watch it.
I guess my tolerance and expectations have been set too high because, well, I don't feel the heart wrenching feeling by the end of the movie like how every one else did, I felt it in the beginning though, when Seita mentioned that he'd died, and reunited with his dead sister, and, when the guard threw the fruit drop can out and ashes fell out, they've kinda already spoiler-ed the whole movie, those first few seconds was profound, it suggested that the little sister have died before him, and I've imagined the guilt and hopelessness Seita would've felt.
What is very obvious about the movie is Seita's chain of bad decisions, and how the adults in the movie failed to provide the guidance needed for both of them. Even when many people knew they lost their mother and it is obvious these children would need guidance to help them through war times. It shows how the adults un-empathetic and selfish attitude towards anybody in need.
This is shown in the beginning scene of the train station, the people walking past them are so quick to think of them as trash and pests, yet do very little to help, even the people cleaning out the train station, authority figures, so many people walked by them, nobody tried to do anything, you would think post war atmosphere would be filled with a strong sense of community helping each other survive, but that was not the case.
I've read a lot of people blaming Seita, to be truthful, I've thought that too, that all the responsibility falls on Seita and how his ignorance and pride lead to his sister and his death. That is indeed true, but, the adults did nothing to help them, the farmer did advise Seita to swallow his pride and go back to the aunt, but when Seita didn't, the farmer should've done something instead of beating the crap out of him when Seita have resorted to stealing food, the lack of empathy and compassion shown is unbelievable, the only ounce seen is in the police officer when Seita was taken there. That ounce of compassion shown could also be the reason why Seita cried as hard as he did, he didn't even cry when he learned about his mother's death.
The movie also shows how it is difficult to see through the perspective of people who are living different lives, Seita and Setsuko included. When they saw the abandoned shelter, they did not think twice of what the lives of the people before them was like, they also fail to understand their aunt's struggle in keeping the house in shape and cooking for the whole family. The aunt is portrayed as mean and heartless, but, when you look closely, she is also eating the same porridge the children are eating, leaving the best foods for those who are working. Later on, when Seita realize how little food ration provide, you realize that the aunt is trying her best to stretch out the food and supporting the working people as best as she could, not because she meant anyone any harm, it could be possible, under the stress, she was mean to the siblings. However, Seita did not understand her perspective and his pride got in the way and left. The aunt did take food rightfully belonging to the sibling and portioned it for the whole family though, that was... kind of wrong, well, she is providing for the kids a place to stay so... (shrugs), life ain't black and white I guess.
The aunt could be better in stopping the siblings leave though, when they say they haven't found a proper relative yet, she should've made sure and try to find out as much as possible where they were headed, and kept them safe from doing anything stupid, for frick frack's sake woman they are 14 and 4 respectively!
All in all, yes, Seita's ignorance did cost his sister and his life, but, can you blame him? He's mentally unstable. He just lost his mother, saw her wrapped up in linen with blood soaking through, and when she died got thrown into a pile of body with the rest of the dead people, not only that, the coldness the adults shown him after all that, did not help with his decision making, no guidance was given, children can be stubborn, and stupid, especially teenager, plus, he needs to care for his 4 year old sister. I think, this movie shows how important social bonds and the involvement of everyone as a community, it doesn't take just one kind person to solve everyone's problem, it takes everyone working together, being compassionate towards each other, and having the ability to see other people's perspective.
After seeing how the internet highly recommended Grave of the Fireflies, and how people say it's one of the most heart wrenching movie ever, I've decided, after 2 years of having this movie shoved down my throat, to watch it.
I guess my tolerance and expectations have been set too high because, well, I don't feel the heart wrenching feeling by the end of the movie like how every one else did, I felt it in the beginning though, when Seita mentioned that he'd died, and reunited with his dead sister, and, when the guard threw the fruit drop can out and ashes fell out, they've kinda already spoiler-ed the whole movie, those first few seconds was profound, it suggested that the little sister have died before him, and I've imagined the guilt and hopelessness Seita would've felt.
What is very obvious about the movie is Seita's chain of bad decisions, and how the adults in the movie failed to provide the guidance needed for both of them. Even when many people knew they lost their mother and it is obvious these children would need guidance to help them through war times. It shows how the adults un-empathetic and selfish attitude towards anybody in need.
This is shown in the beginning scene of the train station, the people walking past them are so quick to think of them as trash and pests, yet do very little to help, even the people cleaning out the train station, authority figures, so many people walked by them, nobody tried to do anything, you would think post war atmosphere would be filled with a strong sense of community helping each other survive, but that was not the case.
I've read a lot of people blaming Seita, to be truthful, I've thought that too, that all the responsibility falls on Seita and how his ignorance and pride lead to his sister and his death. That is indeed true, but, the adults did nothing to help them, the farmer did advise Seita to swallow his pride and go back to the aunt, but when Seita didn't, the farmer should've done something instead of beating the crap out of him when Seita have resorted to stealing food, the lack of empathy and compassion shown is unbelievable, the only ounce seen is in the police officer when Seita was taken there. That ounce of compassion shown could also be the reason why Seita cried as hard as he did, he didn't even cry when he learned about his mother's death.
The movie also shows how it is difficult to see through the perspective of people who are living different lives, Seita and Setsuko included. When they saw the abandoned shelter, they did not think twice of what the lives of the people before them was like, they also fail to understand their aunt's struggle in keeping the house in shape and cooking for the whole family. The aunt is portrayed as mean and heartless, but, when you look closely, she is also eating the same porridge the children are eating, leaving the best foods for those who are working. Later on, when Seita realize how little food ration provide, you realize that the aunt is trying her best to stretch out the food and supporting the working people as best as she could, not because she meant anyone any harm, it could be possible, under the stress, she was mean to the siblings. However, Seita did not understand her perspective and his pride got in the way and left. The aunt did take food rightfully belonging to the sibling and portioned it for the whole family though, that was... kind of wrong, well, she is providing for the kids a place to stay so... (shrugs), life ain't black and white I guess.
The aunt could be better in stopping the siblings leave though, when they say they haven't found a proper relative yet, she should've made sure and try to find out as much as possible where they were headed, and kept them safe from doing anything stupid, for frick frack's sake woman they are 14 and 4 respectively!
All in all, yes, Seita's ignorance did cost his sister and his life, but, can you blame him? He's mentally unstable. He just lost his mother, saw her wrapped up in linen with blood soaking through, and when she died got thrown into a pile of body with the rest of the dead people, not only that, the coldness the adults shown him after all that, did not help with his decision making, no guidance was given, children can be stubborn, and stupid, especially teenager, plus, he needs to care for his 4 year old sister. I think, this movie shows how important social bonds and the involvement of everyone as a community, it doesn't take just one kind person to solve everyone's problem, it takes everyone working together, being compassionate towards each other, and having the ability to see other people's perspective.
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