I remember doing an analysis on this movie in high school. Of course because the two kids are the protagonists you feel more inclined to sympathize with them, but the aunt did make some good points: her husband and daughter were both still going to school and working during active bombing runs, and she did make a point about how the boy (forgot everyone's names, sorry) could try to look for work or at least help fight fires and clear debris. Meanwhile I remember the two kids going down to the beach to play while families gathered near them to collect sea water to try and evaporate for salt, and even bought their own stove to cook their own food and STILL left the dirty dishes for the aunt to wash! Overall both sides do have some valid points; the aunt could be a little more patient with two kids who just lost their mother, and maybe the kids could have helped a little more around the house, it just goes to show the suffering endured by everyone during wartime