Grave of the Fireflies scene review

Movie : Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Director :  Isao Takahata (Heidi: A Girl of the Alps, Pom Poko, Only Yesterday)
Animation, Drama, War,
Production Co: Shinchosha Company, Studio Ghibli 

Cast

Seita = Brother = Tsutomu Tatsumi

Setsuko = Sister = Ayano Shiraishi 

Mother = Yoshiko Shinohara (The Hidden Blade (2004))

Aunt = Akemi Yamaguchi (Under the Blossoming Cherry Trees (1975))

Technical Specs

Runtime: 89 minSound Mix: Mono | Dolby (as Dolby Stereo) (theatrical print)Color: Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio: 1.85 : 1

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095327/

Summary and spoilers

The movie begins after the events have happened with the narrators death. It's set during World War two in Japan. The American army is fighting the Japanese. The main characters are Seita and Setsuko their mother dies, they are sent to live with their aunt. She is cruel to them so they decide to try to live independent to her. Seita learns that his father is dead. Trying to live independently results in them becoming malnourished, Setsuko dies and so does Seita shortly after.  

The scene I have picked to analysis occurs at 1hr 15mins 26sec to 1hr 18mins 34sec.
Seita realizes that his little sister Setsuko is severely sick. He goes to town to take out the very last of their financial funds. He returns to find her barely alive on the ground.

Setting

Set in an abandoned air raid shelter by a lake. In Japan just outside a town.

Various shots used

Primarily reaction shots
Over the shoulder shots
Side profile of face
Perspective shots
Close up shot
The shots are primarily still and static displaying reactions. Produces suspense and unease. Makes one truly focus on what is on screen.


Mise-en scene

water sparkling,
wind,
plants,
Swing swaying,
Blankets,
doll,
wood,
old army raid base,
Timber frames bags,
tin of sweets,
tree roots,
Marbles,
Watermelon ,
Knife,

Sound effects
Wind,
Footsteps,
Muffled wind,
Brother normal voice,
sister can barely talk,
tin noise,
Worried Brother,
Mouth Noise
Moving,
Rocks hitting,
Click of a knife,
Cutting of a watermelon,
thud,
squelch,
Crack squelch
Atmospheric/ devoid of music

The lack of music just adds to the scene.


This is a very powerful scene. Watching it over and over again barely takes from its inpact. I get emotion just thinking about it. When he first finds enters she is talking about the fireflies and how they go up and down. She can barely talk and move. She has been eating marble thinking they were sweets. Seita takes them out of her mouth, she overs him some rocks thinking they are food. He feeds her water melon she can barely eat it. Her brother is full of hope as he got her food but its to late. Her final words to him is "thank you" which is very powerful. He goes off to make her food to hopefully save her and after he leaves the camera slowly pans down and the he says now as the narrator that she didn't wake up. Made me cry the first time I watched it. I am still generally on the verge of tears each time.