Belladonna of Sadness
Kanashimi no Belladonna
哀しみのベラドンナ
Synopsis
In "Belladonna of Sadness," Jeanne, a beautiful young bride, journeys with her husband Jean to the fortress of a ruthless lord, bringing a cow as a token of goodwill. Despite their humble gift and desperate appeals for compassion, the lord shows no mercy. His wife suggests an alternative: Jeanne must partake in a ritual deflowering with the lord. Haunted by the experience, Jeanne finds no solace in her husband's indifference. During her restless slumber, a strange entity appears, encouraging her to seek retribution against her tormentors. Seized by a powerful surge of pleasure and desire, Jeanne agrees. The story unfolds as a captivating, psychosexual exploration of cunning magic and deceptive beliefs set in a destitute medieval French village.
Background
Kanashimi no Belladonna was inspired by the 1862 book La Sorcière (Satanism and Witchcraft) by French historian Jules Michelet. It is the third and final film in the Animerama trilogy conceived by , but it is the only one to be neither written nor directed by him.
