Grave of the Fireflies - Still Messing Me Up Years Later 😭

Okay, international film lovers, let's talk about Grave of the Fireflies. I first saw this animated film probably 15 years ago, and even now, just thinking about it makes me tear up. I know a lot of people call it the saddest movie ever, and honestly, I kinda get it. It's brutal. Seeing Seita try so hard to care for Setsuko in the face of, well, everything just gets me. I'm curious about other people's interpretations, especially of Seita. Like, do you think he ultimately made the right choices? I understand he was trying to protect Setsuko, and his pride was a huge factor, but sometimes I wonder if swallowing that pride and staying with the aunt, as awful as she initially was, would've been better in the long run. That rice scene with the marbles STILL makes me angry, not just at her, but at the whole horrible situation war creates. Also, what's up with the fireflies imagery? Obviously, they're beautiful and fleeting, kinda like Setsuko's innocence and life, but is there more to it than that? The director (whoever it was, blush, I'm bad with names sometimes!) used them so effectively. It's not just a sob story, it's a beautifully told a sob story. What moments hit you the hardest? Did anyone else find themselves questioning Seita's choices? Let's discuss!