Netflix viewers who accidentally selected one of the most heart-wrenching films ever made have found themselves struggling emotionally afterward.
The streaming platform offers a vast library of over 7,000 titles, and not every option will leave you feeling uplifted once the credits roll.
This particular film, which boasts a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, is so profoundly affecting that many choose not to watch it a second time. It’s heralded as one of the most compelling anti-war movies of all time, and simultaneously, one of the most sorrowful.
At first glance, however, the movie’s heartbreaking nature is not immediately apparent, which is why many Netflix users were taken by surprise.
The film was produced by Studio Ghibli, a Japanese animation studio celebrated for its enchanting art style and its family-friendly, fantastical narratives.
Though typically known for its child-friendly content, this particular film has left even adult viewers deeply affected long after viewing it.
The story takes place in Japan during the final stages of World War II and centers around two siblings: Seita, a teenage boy, and his younger sister, Setsuko.
Their lives are upended when their home is destroyed in a U.S. firebombing raid and their mother succumbs to severe burns, leaving the siblings to fend for themselves.
Their father is away on military duty, and the children find themselves with little assistance from family or neighbors, all of whom are also trying to survive under dire conditions.
As they attempt to live independently in an abandoned shelter, food shortages and declining health make their struggle increasingly dire.
The film, “Grave of the Fireflies,” despite its somber narrative, has been awarded a perfect score by Rotten Tomatoes critics.
“An achingly sad anti-war film, Grave of the Fireflies is one of Studio Ghibli’s most profoundly beautiful, haunting works,” reads the critics’ consensus.
One viewer shared their experience in the R/NetflixBestOf community on Reddit, expressing that they felt ‘devastated’ after watching the film.
“I wasn’t prepared for the emotional punch this movie delivered,” the viewer confessed. “I had heard it was sad, but nothing could’ve prepared me for this.
“It is a beautifully made film, but honestly I don’t think I could ever rewatch it. I’m still crying.”
Others on social media shared similar sentiments, with one person commenting: “I watched it last week, not knowing what I was getting into. I just thought, oh, a Ghibli movie I haven’t seen, amazing! Yeah… I was totally destroyed. Turned off the TV and went to stare at a wall for a bit.”
A parent also shared their experience: “My daughters were young when I first watched it. Messed me up for a few days and I haven’t had the courage to watch it again.”
“Absolutely wrecked me. There are certain things you only watch once. This is one of them,” added another viewer.
Another fan described it as the ‘most powerful’ film they had ever seen but warned: “It was more than 25 years ago but there‘s no way I could ever rewatch it. It took me weeks to get over it.”
“Grave of the Fireflies” is currently available for streaming on Netflix.