In which the Mister and Monsters review GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES (1988), from the novel by Akiyuki Nosaka.

In writer/director Isao Takahata’s haunting 1988 Studio Ghibli masterpiece, a teenage boy named Seita and his younger sister, Setsuko, are left to fend for themselves in the final months of World War II after their home is destroyed by firebombing. To escape the cruelty of their surroundings and a strained relationship with a distant relative, the siblings move into an abandoned hillside bomb shelter, attempting to sustain their spirits through play and the flickering light of fireflies. However, their desperate attempt at self-sufficiency is soon threatened by the harsh realities of starvation and social indifference, testing Seita’s resolve to protect his sister’s remaining childhood innocence. The film clocks in at 1 h and 29 m, is unrated R and is currently streaming on Netflix but also available to buy/rent on Prime Video. Please note there are SPOILERS in this review.
#GraveOfTheFireflies # AkiyukiNosaka #IsaoTakahata #TsutomuTatsumi #Seita #AyanoShiraishi #Setsuko #Japanes #AdultAnimation #Anime #HandDrawnAnimation #PeriodDrama #Drama #PsychologicalDrama #Tragedy #War #Siblings #NationalSiblingsDay @Netflix @PrimeVideo⁩ #FridayFamilyFilmNight

Opening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing MADE IN ENGLAND: THE FILMS OF POWELL AND PRESSBURGER (2024) from director David Hinton and narrated by Martin Scorsese. We actually watched this film in 2025 on Turner Classic Movies.

This 2024 documentary provides an intimate, first-person look at the revolutionary creative partnership between British director Michael Powell and Hungarian writer Emeric Pressburger. Scorsese utilizes a treasure trove of film clips and archival footage to demonstrate how the duo's visionary "Archers" productions shaped the landscape of global cinema and personally inspired his own iconic filmmaking style. Moving beyond a standard retrospective, the film serves as a passionate testament to their enduring legacy, exploring the "magic and wonder" of their work while celebrating their unique ability to blend high art with commercial storytelling. The film clocks in at 2 h and 11 m, is unrated and you can find it on Fawesome and to buy/rent on Prime Video. Please note there are SPOILERS in this review.

#MadeInEnglandTheFlmsOfPowellAndPressburger #MichaelPowell #EmericPressburger #DavidHinton #MartinScorsese #Documentary @Fawesome @PrimeVideo #FridayFamilyFilmNight

Opening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing BLACK NARCISSUS (1947) from the novel by Rumer Godden and written and directed by The Archers, Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger.

In this Technicolor masterpiece, a group of Anglican nuns led by the ambitious Sister Clodagh (Deborah Kerr) travels to a remote, wind-swept palace in the Himalayas to establish a school and hospital. As the sisters struggle with the thinning air and isolation, the palace’s history as a former harem begins to exert a sensual and destabilizing influence on their suppressed desires and psychological stability. The tension reaches a fever pitch as the unstable Sister Ruth (Kathleen Byron) becomes obsessively infatuated with a local British agent, Mr. Dean (David Farrar) leading to a haunting confrontation that threatens the very foundation of their mission. The film clocks in at 1 h and 41 m, is rated Approved and you can find it on HBO Max, Plex, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, Tubi and to buy/rent on Prime Video. Please note there are SPOILERS in this review.

#BlackNarcissus #RumerGodden #MichaelPowell #EmericPressburger #DeborahKerr #SisterClodagh #FloraRobson #SisterPhilippa #JennyLaird #SisterHoney #JudithFurse #SisterBriony #KathleenByron #SisterRuth #DavidFarrar #MrDean #Sabu #TheYoungGeneral #JeanSimmons #Kanchi #MayHallatt #AnguAyah #EddieWhaleyJr #JosephAnthony #ShaunNoble #Con #NancyRoberts #MotherDorthea #LeyOn #Phuba #Drama #PsychologicalDrama @TCM @HBOMax @Plex

@PlutoTV @RokuChannel ⁠@Tubi ⁠⁠@PrimeVideo⁠ #FridayFamilyFilmNight

Opening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library