>>212655563 (OP)That's the entire point.
People today look at the film as an anti-war movie, as the kids being innocent victims.
But the message of the film is that you shouldn't go against the community - a true Japanese sensible message.
The boy is filled with hubris. He lives with his aunt, doesn't go to school, doesn't participate in the communal anti-fire-drills or whatever they were. Instead of participating in the household and the town he creates this dream of his sister and him living off the grid, a childish fantasy that doesn't work out.
He starts stealing crops from his neighbors, even as he has money he could withdraw from the bank, going so far as to run into danger and steal items from their houses. When he's caught the policeman outright tells him to go back to his aunt, apologize, and live with them. That's the sensible, mature thing to do.
Even as his sister gets weaker and weaker he keeps doing the same shit.
It's not until it's too late that he returns to the community, using the bank, and buys some food honestly.
It is a sad film because they lose their mother and the sister is a cute girl who ends up suffering because of her dumb older brother. But they suffered because of his pride and refusal to participate in the community. People tend to look at this as sad because they didn't get to live in peace and harmony in their cave, but the lesson is that that's a stupid way to live.
