‘Masterpiece’ war movie is hailed ‘best of all time’ and on Netflix | Films | Entertainment

Netflix viewers will be pleased to learn that a little-known war movie that is also critically acclaimed is now streaming on the platform.

Grave of the Fireflies is a 1988 Japanese animated war film written and directed by Isao Takahata and animated by Studio Ghibli,. It is based on the 1967 semi-autobiographical short story of the same name by Akiyuki Nosaka, and is set in the city of Kobe, Japan, during the final months of the Pacific War. Production of Grave of the Fireflies began after Nosaka became interested in an animated adaptation of his book. Grave of the Flies stars Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi, Yoshiko Shinohara and Akemi Yamaguchi. The film’s synopsis reads: “A devastating meditation on the human cost of war, this animated tale follows Seita (Tsutomu Tatsumi), a teenager charged with the care of his younger sister, Setsuko (Ayano Shiraishi), after an American firebombing during World War II separates the two children from their parents. Their tale of survival is as heartbreaking as it is true to life. The siblings rely completely on each other and struggle against all odds to stay together and stay alive.”

Upon release, the film was universally acclaimed by critics, with particular praise toward its emotional weight. Grave of the Fireflies is considered by many to be Takahata’s magnum opus as well as one of the greatest animated films ever made, and is also known as a major work of Japanese animation.

The film has been crowned the “Best War Movie of All Time” by Rotten Tomatoes, in its listing of the top 100. It has a 100% rating on the platform and the critics consensus states: “An achingly sad anti-war film, Grave of the Fireflies is one of Studio Ghibli’s most profoundly beautiful, haunting works.”

One audience reviewer said: “Beautiful, truly just a masterpiece start to finish.”

Another added: “It is a melancholic, tear-jerking film which portrays the pure innocence in the children who are struggling to survive amidst such cruelty shown towards them. The brother himself being a child, has to take care of his little sister, which was really sad. He does everything he could, to take care of her, which shows his immense love towards his sibling who is the only person that’s left beside him. It is a must-see but I would never even wish to see it again. I was teary from the beginning until the end. It is a masterpiece which moves you.”

“This isn’t a movie, it’s an emotional experience that will leave you speechless unitl you’ve recovered. I don’t think I can’t watch this again. Not for a long time, at least,” a third added.

Grave of the Flies is available to stream on Netflix.