I was persuaded to watch this anime by Big Elf. I wasn't interested because the title didn't really give away much. I had no expectation nor preparation to watch this movie. I simply watched it because I was coerced into it although Big Elf did tell me, it is a sad movie. Well, how sad can it be, I thought to myself. At the most, I will just shed a tear or two like I have in so many other touching movies.
Then, the movie showed. Thanks to Youtube, we can all watch almost any popular movies we want nowadays at our fingertips.
So, I sat comfortable on my bed, with the laptop literally on my lap, with no preparation, none whatsoever. Guess what, just 15 minutes into the movie, I was literally sobbing my heart out!!! I couldn't stop sobbing that Big Elf came rushing into the room, just to check on me. I gave him a good scolding for introducing such movie to me. It was really a painful movie and it touches every cell in my body I must say. It is not only touching and moving, but it is really.... really... sad. I have never watched any sadder war time movie ever in my life.
This is going to be a spoiler for those who hasn't watch the movie. The movie is about a teenage brother named Seita and a young sister, Setsuko(about 4-5 years of age) surviving as orphans during WWII. The part where I sobbed the most were the scenes below:
1. When their mother is dying (could in fact have died) and Setsuko asked to see her mother, but was refused by her brother. The mother was all wrapped up due to the blast of an air raid. She was severely burnt and died from the injuries. The scene where Setsuko just knelt down and sobbed because she can't see her mother, also not knowing that her mother is dead/dying, was so touching. The fact that she did not throw tantrums but just turned away in that sad and forlorn eyes, with a pouted mouth, standing still before knelting and cried, it was a very tearjerking scene.
2. When Setsuko was looking at her mother's ring and asked how come mum doesn't need her ring anymore. Then Seita told her, when mum is healthier, he will bring her to see mum. She just nodded enthusiastically "hm... hm..". That was another tearjerking scene.
3. When their distant aunt took away their mother's kimono to be traded for rice, Setsuko ran and grabbed hold of the aunt's arms to stop her from taking her mother's kimono and yelled, "No.. No.. it's mama's!" Oh, another tearjerking scene.
4. When Seito asked Setsuko what is she doing at one time, and Setsuko replied, she is making a grave, mummmy is in a grave too. That aunty told her mummy died, and she's in a grave now. (She was not meant to know that her mother is dead). Oh, such a heartbreaking line. Another tearjerking scene.
5. When Setsuko (in her pyjama) had to watch her brother being beaten for stealing food in order to feed them both (Seito had to resort to food theft in order survive) and being all alone and scared and not knowing what to do, she just cried out her brother's name, Ni-jan, Ni-jan. At this point, my heart totally went all out for her. Oh no, what if they lock his brother up for stealing food? What is going to happen to Setsuko? She has nobody around for her and for a 4 or 5 year old girl, it is unbearable to watch. She then tail-gated the man and her brother all the way to the police station and waited outside, all alone for her brother. All of me, am all out for her. Immensely saddening.
6. When Setsuko is languishing day by day and she woke up one day only to find her brother wasn't around. She is weak, tired, hungry and thirsty. Then Seito came back from looking for food only to find Setsuko collapsed on the floor. He tried to wake her up (well, at that point, I thought she died, so I really sobbed....) and the first thing she said when she opened her mouth was, "Water.. ". This is totally... not right for a 5 year old girl to have to go through all these. So heartwrenching!
7. When Seito carried the weak and frail Setsuko, and asked her what does she like to eat, to which Setsuko asnwered, "Tempura, Sashimi, Jelly.. ice-cream and also.. fruit drops". (the tin of fruit drops carried a significant meaning throughout the whole movie). I literally was sobbing, so hard I can hardly stop.
8. When Seito withdrew the last penny they have in the bank to buy food for Setsuko. He came home and found that Setsuko was lying on the bed, hallucinating. Setsuko was chewing a marble which she thought was fruit drop. Then, she offered rice balls to Seito, which she made out of mud. Finally, the part which I dread but already anticipated, Setsuko never woke up after that sleep.
My eyes... were badly swollen from crying. I, practically cried throughout the whole movie. Right now, I won't be able to blog my perspective after watching the movie. But I will in the next few days. It's late now, and I've got to sleep. Too exhausted from crying. Even from blogging about the movie, tears just rolled freely down my cheeks.
