AQUIO, RICHELLE JOY R.

ABM 11-B1

REACTION PAPER: GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES

I. INTRODUCTION
The movie “Grave of the Fireflies” was a true-to-life story in Japan directed by Isaho
Takahata in 1988. Its nice to live especially when there is unity and love for each other,
but the opposite is what Seita and Setsuka felt because after wartime their relatives are
not kind nor generous. This film revolves on the story of two siblings, Seita and Setsuko,
in the midst of the war where they struggled to survive on their own. In this video, I
admired Seita for being loved and attentive to her sister, Setsuka, even though
sometimes he is struggling to provide for the two of them and can no longer survive
because they don’t have a source of food to eat in everyday life. I was amazed for Seita
for being brave enough to face this time of crisis and not giving up no matter what
hardships they went through, They still chose to continue the challenge of life and fight
no matter what happens. There are many lessons thought in the film especially for those
people who have everything in life.

II. BODY
The bond of Setsuka and Seita was really special. Their mother had been died in an air
raid, and they didn’t have a good relationships with their relatives. With only each other
to rely on, every second or every moment they spend together becomes so precious.
The sakuma drops that Setsuko loved so much, became a powerful symbol of her life as
an ordinary young girl who simply wanted to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. But the
circumstances prevented her from doing so. The siblings took refuge in a shelter lit by
fire flies, but they all died the next day. This, I believe was a pivotal point in our lives. ‘In
one moment, everything appears to be in perfect condition and then vanishes the next..
It all goes dark’.

As time goes by, Setsuka fell ill from starvation. At that time Seita did not know what to
do because he had no one to ask for help, and because of his love and desire to heal
her sister, He did not budge instead he made a way even though it was a bad deed like
stealing food. Seita did everything he could but the Gods weren't fair. It was too late
before he could save his sister. The scenes that they had spent together flashed past my
mind at that instant. Why has life got to be so cruel? Two innocent children becoming
victims of the war they didn't cause, nor did they desire.

A little girl who barely lived, and a teenage boy who was struggling to provide for the two
of them. Imagine the kind of feelings Seita felt then. Could it be emptiness and defeat or
sorrow and regret. Maybe a little of everything. But those feelings are enough to make
you give up on living.

III. CONCLUSION
Let us not forget to help those in need no matter what challenges or troubles we face
because merely helping them can save people’s lives. Furthermore, The film ‘Grave of
the Fireflies’ depicts familial love and sacrifice. Because that’s how life is, there are joyful
and sad times, and its up to us how we deal with them . This film teaches us to be tough
and not to be disheartened; we learn to fight even if we feel the world does not want us
because of how others treat us. We also learn to be grateful for what we have even the
smallest things, and most importantly, we must cherish every minute we have with our
loved ones because life is too short, so let's not waste it. Live life because no one knows
what tomorrow comes.
AQUIO, RICHELLE JOY R. ABM 11-B1