Overview
A haunting tale of beauty and vengeance unfolds in a surreal animated world.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- surreal
- melancholic
- disturbing
- arthouse animation night
- surreal cinema marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly admire the film's brilliant, entrancing visual artistry while finding its narrative reach less controlled and some of its sexual imagery dated or exploitative.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jeanne's transformation into Belladonna visually embodies her escalating desire, rage, and supernatural power.
The feudal lord's droit du seigneur, religious authority, and witch-hunt persecution structure Jeanne's oppression.
The film combines sexualized hallucinations, demonic fantasy, violent imagery, and ornate grotesque designs.
Its watercolor-like artwork frequently unfolds as pans and transitions across richly detailed still or minimally animated compositions.
Films like Belladonna of Sadness, and why
The Holy Mountain
surreal adult animation, erotic transformation, and mythic visual experimentation
The Night Is Short, Walk on Girl
adult animated fantasy, sexual violence, and grotesque allegory of oppression
Possession
female-centered revenge, erotic horror, and transgressive body imagery
The Witch
folk-horror atmosphere, witchcraft, patriarchal oppression, and disturbing imagery
Movie Details
- Director
- Eiichi Yamamoto
- Release Date
- 1973-06-30
- Runtime
- 87 min
- Rating
- 7.4 / 10 (380)
Cast
- Aiko Nagayama
- Takao Itō
- Tatsuya Nakadai
- Masaya Takahashi
- Shigako Shimegi
- Masakane Yonekura
- Natsuka Yashiro
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Belladonna of Sadness about?
- A visually radical medieval peasant tragedy turns sexual oppression, demonic power, and revenge into a hallucinatory adult animation.
- What is Belladonna of Sadness like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Belladonna of Sadness as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Belladonna of Sadness violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Belladonna of Sadness as moderate.
- What did critics think of Belladonna of Sadness?
- Critics broadly admire the film's brilliant, entrancing visual artistry while finding its narrative reach less controlled and some of its sexual imagery dated or exploitative.
- Which films are like Belladonna of Sadness?
- Films with a similar feel include The Holy Mountain, The Night Is Short, Walk on Girl, Possession, and The Witch.
- How long is Belladonna of Sadness?
- Belladonna of Sadness runs 87 minutes.
- Where can I watch Belladonna of Sadness?
- In United States, Belladonna of Sadness is available to rent or buy from Google Play Movies, YouTube.
