Belladonna of Sadness

Set during the feudal era of medieval France, the world is governed by lords, peasants, and strict social hierarchies. The period is marked by famine pressures, heavy taxation, and religious superstition that influences every decision. Magic and power dynamics emerge as the village's fortunes swing with the baron’s wars and Jeanne's pact with dark forces.

The story is set in a small rural village in medieval France, where feudal power looms over daily life. A nearby baron rules the region from his estate, and famine and debt strain the community. The village is defined by its tight-knit but fearful population, who rely on the lord's mercy and the church's judgment.

👑 Power and Ambition

The film traces how power can be seized and leveraged through charisma, fear, and manipulation. Jeanne’s ascent from social outsider to ruling force destabilizes the local order and relationships, especially with Jean and the baron. The story shows the costs and temptations of unchecked ambition.

🪄 Witchcraft and Temptation

A pact with a demonic spirit grants Jeanne extraordinary abilities, blurring lines between salvation and damnation. The magic empowers her to heal the plague yet corrupts the moral fabric of the village. The narrative probes whether power granted by the supernatural can ever be morally clean.

♀️ Female Agency vs Patriarchy

Jeanne’s rise challenges the patriarchal order, making her both feared and envied. The villagers’ condemnation reveals gendered double standards and the social costs of female power. Her choices test loyalty, marriage, and faith, forcing others to confront their own complicity.

🦠 Disease as Catalyst

The plague outbreak catalyzes Jeanne’s role as healer and leader, attracting the village’s devotion and fear alike. The cure she offers becomes a tool for political leverage, drawing the baron’s pursuit of control. The plague also functions as a vehicle for social experimentation and later historical upheaval.