Belladonna of Sadness

In a remote village ruled by feudal power, a newlywed bride is brutalized on her wedding night, leaving her and her husband to face a communal sting of shame and retaliation. Shunned by the place she once called home, she encounters a brutal reality that tests her endurance and stirs anger. She chooses to redefine her fate through a forbidden pact that grants supernatural power in exchange for humanity. The choice unleashes a cascade of consequences that ripple through the village, inviting vengeance and a reckoning with oppression. The narrative uses lush visuals and symbolic imagery to illuminate a woman's defiance in a world that denies her voice. Its dreamlike sequences juxtapose brutality with fragile beauty, inviting viewers to reflect on who pays for cruelty.

Directed by Eiichi Yamamoto, the film translates Jules Michelet's witch lore into a cinematic fable with Yoshiyuki Fukuda shaping the screenplay; it first appeared in 1973 and is noted for its bold, painterly approach and its unflinching gaze at power dynamics.

Box office details are not widely published for Belladonna of Sadness; the film circulated primarily in art house venues and festival circuits and, over time, gained a cult following.

The movie is revered in animation circles for its painterly imagery and fearless treatment of sex, ritual, and power. It influenced later art house anime and remains a touchstone for discussions about mature themes in the medium. Screenings at festivals highlighted its daring musicality and surreal color.

Critics have split on its intensity yet widely acknowledge its audacious visuals and thematic courage. The film foregrounds female agency under duress while using allegory and myth to examine desire, social justice, and the toll of oppression. Some viewers find the pace challenging, but many praise its courage to confront taboo subjects.