Belladonna of Sadness (1973)
Year: 2016
Runtime: 93 min
Language: Japanese
Director: Eiichi Yamamoto
A young woman’s life is tragically disrupted on her wedding night, leading to a descent into madness and a thirst for revenge. She makes a pact with the Devil, which transforms her into a captivating and enigmatic figure. The story blends medieval imagery with eroticism, creating a dreamlike and surreal narrative that explores themes of desire, vengeance, and the blurring lines between reality and fantasy. It's a visually striking and provocative adult animated film.
Belladonna of Sadness (1973) (2016) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview
Get a spoiler-free look at Belladonna of Sadness (1973) (2016) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.
In a remote medieval village where the rhythm of daily life is dictated by the seasons and the whispers of ancient superstition, a fragile equilibrium is suddenly upended. The story introduces Jeanne, a young bride whose hopes for a tranquil future are shattered on the night she is meant to begin a new chapter. Beside her stands Jean, her husband, a simple man whose love is genuine but soon tested by forces beyond his understanding. Their bond, initially tender and hopeful, is strained as the world around them darkens, hinting at an inner turmoil that will soon drive them apart.
The once‑peaceful community is suffused with an unsettling atmosphere, marked by stark contrasts between light and shadow, fertility and decay. As the village wrestles with poverty and looming dread, Jeanne finds herself haunted by visions of an enigmatic, otherworldly presence. This mysterious spirit, half‑sublime and half‑menacing, offers her a tantalizing promise of power that could rewrite the limits imposed upon her by a harsh, patriarchal society.
Drawn into a pact that blurs the line between salvation and damnation, Jeanne undergoes a metamorphosis that turns her into a captivating and enigmatic figure. Her newfound abilities awaken desires for agency and vengeance, while also casting her into a surreal landscape where reality and fantasy intertwine. The film’s tone balances eroticism with melancholy, weaving a dreamlike tapestry that invites viewers to contemplate the costs of empowerment and the fragile nature of the human soul.
Visually, the film is a bold adult‑animated experience, rendered in watercolor‑washed, psychedelic frames that pulse with symbolic imagery. Its provocative style and haunting score amplify the sense of a living fresco, where each scene feels both ancient and avant‑garde. The mood is intoxicatingly beautiful and unsettling, promising a journey that lingers long after the final frame, inviting curiosity about how Jeanne will navigate the shadows she has willingly embraced.
Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 03:58
Explore Movie Threads
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Surreal dramas about trauma and power like Belladonna of Sadness (1973)
Films that use dreamlike, symbolic imagery to explore the fallout of trauma and the pursuit of power.If you liked the symbolic and psychedelic visuals of Belladonna of Sadness, explore similar movies that use surrealism to delve into psychological trauma, vengeance, and the desire for control. These films share a dreamlike, often dark tone and a heavy emotional weight.
Belladonna of Sadness (1973)
2016
Violation
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Brand Upon the Brain!
2007
Trauma
1993
The Image Threads
2010
Visions
2015
Strange Circus
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Night Visions
1990
Psychic Wars
1991
Bad Dreams
1988
Deadly Dreams
1988
The Lathe of Heaven
1980
Belladonna of Sadness
1973
Picnic
1996
All the Colors of the Dark
1972
Narrative Summary
Narratives in this thread often begin with a profound violation or loss that fractures the protagonist's reality. Their subsequent journey is depicted through a lens of hallucinatory symbolism, as they grapple with their trauma, often seeking empowerment or revenge through otherworldly or supernatural means. The plot is driven by the character's psychological state as much as by external events.
Why These Movies?
Movies are grouped here for their shared commitment to using non-realistic, artistic visuals to convey intense psychological experiences. They connect through a dark, oppressive mood, a focus on themes of injustice and empowerment, and a willingness to confront disturbing content through a stylized, symbolic filter.
Movies about tragic pacts and revenge like Belladonna of Sadness (1973)
Stories of characters who trade their humanity for power, leading to a bittersweet reckoning.For viewers who appreciated the dark deal with the devil in Belladonna of Sadness, this list features similar movies about characters making desperate pacts for power. These stories share themes of injustice, vengeance, and the heavy price of empowerment, often ending on a tragic or bittersweet note.
Revanche
2009
The Crow
1994
Down a Dark Hall
2018
Fading of the Cries
2011
The Crow
2024
In the Lost Lands
2025
SAGA - Curse of the Shadow
2013
Dracula: The Dark Prince
2013
Wishmaster 4: The Prophecy Fulfilled
2002
The Beast and the Magic Sword
1983
1920: Horrors of the Heart
2023
Lord of Illusions
1995
Red Light
1949
The Witch’s Mirror
1960
A Blood Pledge
2009
Narrative Summary
The narrative pattern involves a sympathetic character pushed to the brink by cruelty or oppression. They make a conscious, desperate choice to ally with a dark or supernatural force, gaining immense power at a great personal cost. Their journey of vengeance or revolution is transformative but ultimately leads to their own destruction or a pyrrhic victory, questioning the true meaning of justice.
Why These Movies?
These films are connected by the core plot device of a transformative, morally ambiguous pact. They share a dark tone, high emotional intensity, and a thematic focus on the complex interplay between victimhood, power, and the cyclical nature of violence. The endings are rarely purely triumphant.
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Belladonna of Sadness (1973) Summary
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