Grave of the Fireflies returns to theaters for a week.

Grave of the Fireflies returns to Italian theaters for a limited-time event that brings one of the most powerful films in Japanese animation back to the big screen. Distributed by Lucky Red , the film will be screened for one week only, from September 18 to 24, 2025 , offering audiences the opportunity to experience (or relive) the work in a restored version. Directed by Isao Takahata and produced by Studio Ghibli , the film explores the aftermath of war from the perspective of two children, using a simple and touching visual language. A distinctive cinematic experience, one that resonates even decades later.

Why it is considered a masterpiece

Based on the autobiographical work by Akiyuki Nosaka , the film is set in 1945 , during the final days of World War II . The story follows Seita and his little sister Setsuko , two siblings orphaned in Kobe after an American bombing. The film chronicles their survival amidst hunger, indifference, and loss.

The film's strength lies in its realist approach : no fantastical elements, just animation at the service of historical testimony . The sober, rhetorical-free narrative, combined with the symbolic use of the firefly as a metaphor for ephemeral life, made the film a milestone not only for animation, but for cinema in general. Its emotional impact has resonated across generations, cementing Takahata 's reputation as an auteur of profound sensitivity.

When he goes out to the cinema

The Italian re-release of Grave of the Fireflies is scheduled for September 18–24, 2025 , for a week of special screenings curated by Lucky Red . The film will be available in select theaters throughout Italy.

This is a rare screening: the film isn't part of the usual circuits and is only shown on special occasions. It's an unmissable opportunity for anyone who wants to discover or delve deeper into one of the most poignant tales in the history of Japanese cinema. This initiative is part of the calendar of celebratory re-releases of Ghibli films, eagerly anticipated by Italian audiences.