Viral posts online suggest Grave of the Fireflies should never be shown to kids. Here's why they are wrong.
    • CitizenKong@lemmy.worldEnglish
      20·
      3 months ago

      It’s the best movie I would never recommend to watch. Unless you really want to feel miserable afterwards.

      Close second is Requiem for a Dream.

      • Rai@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        2·
        3 months ago

        Irreversible and Loveless are stellar movies that are VERY rough recommends.

        Oh god and Nightingale. 10/10 but holy shit the amount of rape…

    • Ben@feddit.dkEnglish
      9·
      3 months ago

      Did you know its based on a book written as a semi self biography.
      When I found out its not just sad fiction, the story hit a little harder.

  • wizzor@sopuli.xyzEnglish
    27·
    3 months ago

    I can’t bring myself to rewatch the damn thing, how can I expose my children to it?!

  • hitagi@ani.socialMEnglish
    25·
    3 months ago

    I didn’t know people were opposed to showing Grave of the Fireflies to kids. I always thought it was one of the better war movies to show to kids because there isn’t much explicit violence and the main characters are children.

    • whotookkarl@lemmy.worldEnglish
      9·
      3 months ago

      I think some folks are just opposed to thinking it’s good for all kids when obviously the material takes some amount of maturity and empathy.

      • TargaryenTKE@lemmy.worldEnglish
        5·
        3 months ago

        I’m definitely not taking the stance of “every child needs to see this film”, but I AM of the opinion that kids should occasionally be presented with something that might make them uncomfortable or try to instill empathy as a good thing that they should strive for. Yeah, it might be difficult for them, but that’s why they should have a parent/support system readily available so they can process and learn from it, instead of watching it at 2am alone in a dorm room and crying until 5am like I definitely didn’t do ahaha ha ha…

      • hitagi@ani.socialMEnglish
        2·
        3 months ago

        Yeah, that seems to be a good point. Maybe kids around the age of Seita would understand it better.

    • Duamerthrax@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      3 months ago

      There’s a rightwing push in Japan to censor Barefoot Gen in schools because even though the Japanese civilians are depicted as victims, it ostensibly anti-war and they want more military spending. I wouldn’t be surprised if Grave of the Fireflies is in their crosshairs as well.

  • nyan@lemmy.cafeEnglish
    19·
    3 months ago

    A skim of the article shows that it was not written from the viewpoint of a parent having to calm a hysterical crying child after having watched the movie. GotF is an emotional gut-punch even for adults. Incredibly powerful film, but that means it has to be treated with care and respect. That doesn’t mean it can’t be shown to children, but anyone who does so needs to be prepared for the consequences.

    (As for me, I was in grad school when I saw it. I’m glad I did, but I don’t think I will ever be able to bring myself to watch it again.)

    • LiteralGrill@ani.socialEnglish
      13·
      3 months ago

      The second paragraph literally discusses creating a self care plan surrounding watching the movie. It links out to several studies by child psychologists and articles discussing watching scary/sad media with kids and how to do so. It shows examples of how kids are interacting with stories like this safely. It recommends showing kids things like this in safe environments so they don’t suddenly come to you broken and scared when horrors are thrust upon them when they are alone or unsupervised.

      As a kid, I was “trolled” with fake links that sent me to beheading videos online. Tons of folks I know watched 9/11 happen live in their classrooms. Hell, the post talks about how pictures and videos from Gaza keep showing up on feeds on Instagram and TikTok. The whole point is parents should do that work and teach kids these skills and that it’s okay to ask for help if they run into an emotional brick wall BEFORE they hit the brick wall.

      But this is why ya shouldn’t skim! Read deeply! (P.S. I wrote the post, I’m also literally a parent. If that matters to you.)

      • nyan@lemmy.cafeEnglish
        2·
        3 months ago

        I probably shouldn’t be posting when I feel too awful to concentrate, either. Apologies.

  • 🖖USS-Ethernet@startrek.websiteEnglish
    6·
    3 months ago

    Well shit, a Studio Ghibli movie I haven’t seen. I guess I know what I’m doing this weekend. My wife and 16 year old have already said they are down for it. Not sure if I want my 9 year old to sit in on this.

    • Poop@lemmy.caEnglish
      9·
      3 months ago

      I’m not sure how old you are to get this reference, but you might be setting up your kid for a Watership Down/Bambi’s Mom moment with this one. This movie is probably the saddest movie I have ever seen. I’m actually near tears just thinking about it even.