Belladonna of Sadness

Kanashimi no Belladonna

This erotic, adult anime showcases Klimt-inspired watercolours and a psychedelic flare.

  • Director

    Eiichi Yamamoto

  • With the voices of

    Tatsuya Nakadai, Aiko Nagayama, Katsuyuki Itô

  • Japan 1973. Total running time 87min

  • Digital 4K

  • Certificate

    18

  • English subtitles

Unseen for many years until its recent restoration, Belladonna of Sadness is an explicit revenge drama based on Jules Michelet’s book La sorcière. In this harrowing story a feudal lord in the middle-ages commits a terrible crime against a couple of newlyweds. Although the film is troubling, it remains a true anime classic, combining vivid watercolours with artistic influences such as Gustav Klimt.

Contains explicit imagery of sexual violence.

The screening on Monday 4 April will be introduced by Helen McCarthy, founder of Anime UK (later Anime FX).