I was looking through what was new and upcoming on Netflix yesterday. And there it was.
Most people think of Studio Ghibli and smile, because of Kiki's Delivery Service, Totoro and even if Nausicaa was about a post apocalyptic war for survival, it's strong environmental statement added power to its happy ending. And Totoro, how can one not smile when they think of Totoro? I have two stuffed totoros and a stuffed catbus.
But when it was released, did you Totora was a double bill? It was almost as if Miyazaki knew folks would be desperately needing it.
You need to know some history. World War II. And the end for Japan. Most people will nod sagely and think of Hiroshima, think of Nagasaki. And I know I will annoy a great many folks by this irreverent but true statement. They were just two more cities, at the end of the war. And when you've already lost sixty four, two more - even if they were lost in a heartbeat - was just the way of the world, then.
In a cruel and bitter way, it almost merciful.
General Curtis LeMay was charged with ending the war. He had seen the absolute failure of the Bomber Mafia. So his decision was to destroy the enemy, in the swiftest and harshest manner possible.
The firebombing of Japan was was brutal and devastating. Using only conventional weapons and a new invention we'd come to know as napalm, Operation Meetinghouse, against Tokyo, was the most destructive air raid in the entire war.
You need to know that.
Kobe was fire bombed twice. Kobe that was where young Seita and his little sister Setsuko grew up and lived.
Grave of the Fireflies is one of the greatest and most powerful war stories of all time. It is one of the milestones of Japanese animation.
It is the story of Seita and Setsuko and the fire bombing of Kobe and how it affected their lives.
For me, if there are movies that are "must sees" ... this is one one of them.
For me, it is not hyperbole that I believe everyone should see it, once.
But only once.
