The setting is late World War II in Japan, about two children and their struggle to get by without their parents. Right off the bat, it's obvious that the story is not going to end on a traditional happy note. In fact, throughout the majority of the movie looms sorrow, destitution, and loss. It's not exactly the kind of movie you watch if you want something fun and light-hearted to eat popcorn with.
And yet, this movie is so profound and beautiful that just about everyone deserves to see it at some point. It's themes are devastatingly real, while not being so violent or disturbing that it makes you turn away. The two main protagonists are also quite relatable and realistic; Setsuko is probably one of the most accurate depictions of a four year old girl in a movie that I've ever seen, from her mannerisms to the way that she deals with the tragedies unfolding around her. Seita is also quite a real depiction of a teenage boy, who has to take on sort of a parenting role for Setsuko's sake despite clearly not being ready for it. I've noticed since I watched the movie that a lot of people dislike Seita's character because of the mistakes he's makes throughout the movie, and I won't go into detail here... but... if you do watch the movie, I recommend you keep in mind that he is a prideful fourteen year old boy. The choices that he makes are, in my opinion, no more or less than I would expect from a teenager. Honestly, I believe it is Seita's flaws that make the movie what it is and allow it to send the message that it does.
Anyway, as beautiful as it is, this also isn't the type of movie that has a lot of actions or overly dramatic scenes. It's just about two kids trying to make it through difficult times. There are many sad moments, but there are also plenty of light and sweet moments that tug at your heart strings and make you truly sympathize with Seita and Setsuko. Ultimately, those moments make the finale all that more tear-worthy.
Overall, Hotaru no Haka was a beautiful movie. It was a story with powerful messages and characters, and a lovely soundtrack. It's a Studio Ghibli movie and I think all of their art styles have a certain charm about them, so I certainly enjoyed this one. You may never quite get over this movie once you watch it, but it's definitely an experience you don't want to miss.
