Belladonna of Sadness is a 1973 anime film directed by Eiichi Yamamoto. The film follows the story of Jeanne a peasant woman that makes a deal with the devil to gain power and get her revenge after she is raped by the local nobility on her wedding night. Belladonna of a Sadness is a film that tackles the themes of misogyny, feudal oppression, moral depravity, rebellion, and witch hunting at the tome to showcase the horrors that can be inflicted to the common individual and the positive yet tragic outcome that can occur because of that.
The film begins with a young man and woman who are newlyweds and very much in love called Jeanne and Jean Jeanne known for her beauty, Jeanne must make an offering to the queen to show how he appreciates her, this is again showcases the themes of feudal oppression in the film in how the ruling monoecy controls and dominates its citizens. Jean tries to take Jeanne’s hand in marriage but to do so he must give them 10 cows witch he is too poor to do, this again demonstrates the theme of federal oppression in how the poor are being exploited by the rich federal ruling class. Jean is then kicked out of the castle as she brutally gang-raped is a deflowering ritual by the local baron and his courtiers. This again demonstrates the themes of misogyny in the film as she is exploited by the men in the film, also the themes of feudal oppression are shown as the high class are exploiting the lower class are shown in the rape scene, as well as this moral depravity is also shown as everyone descending into savagery throughout the film.
Jean comes home haggard, and jean says that that they can move on before strangling her unconscious highlighting the themes of misogyny throughout the film as Jeanne lives a tragic life. Jeanne then ends up meeting a phallic looking spirit linking into the themes of misogyny and moral depravity in the film has Jeanne sexuality and sexual depravity are ultimately exploited in the film. the spirit offers her great power, with the spirit sliding down her breast and engaging her body binging her to orgasm, it reinforces the themes of misogyny and moral depravity as the devil exploits her sexuality to control her witch descends into sexual exploitation. Jeanne wants to help her destroyed husband Jean, they end up selling cloths they make as the famine strikes the village and the baron raises taxes to help with the war effort, as they think she is the devil and Jena becomes a tax collector. This linking into the themes of federal oppression in how a dominate ruling power controls the people through money as well as controlling the protagonists by making them complicit in this exploitation. The character of Jeanne is in league with the devil leading to a dream sequence which is sexual in nature. This is symbolic of Jeanne’s sexual awaking shown with the phallic imagery of the devil having sex with her. This again links into the themes of misogyny and moral depravity in the film as Jeanne and her sexuality is exploited leading to this scene. Jean then becomes a tax collector, but when he cannot collect enough money, the baron cuts his hand causing his depression turning him into a alcoholic and leading to domestic violence and sexual assault as you truly feel for Jeanne in the film, which links up to the themes of federal oppression in the film as it is the domaining power of the rich land owner that control their lives that caused this hell.
The evil spirits then visit Jeanne, and she lets then have sex with her in exchange for more riches, she excepts saying that he can have her body but not her soul. This again links into the themes of the film being misogyny as the sprit is controlling and abusing her to dominate her very essence. This also shows the theme of moral depravity as she degrades herself to achieve her goal and lest people exploit her. The evil spirit gives Jeanne incredible lust a d pleasure causing Jean to see Jeanne to see her as a devil. After this Jeanne wears a green dress which is the colour of both power and the devil as she uses her sexuality to control people, showcasing the themes of feminism in the film as she can manipulate and control people, these themes of feminism are further reenforced by Jeanne being a powerful and feared money lender. Jean however despite being successful descends deeper into alcoholism, the baron’s wife then calls her a witch once the baron comes home from war to manipulate him to turning the villagers against her. This again links into the theme of feudal oppression as they are worried about her starting an uprising due to the influence and power leading to which hunting where she is condemned for political reasons to stop her from gaining influence.
Jeanne then suffers a failed assassination attempt as she is accused of being which causing the village to turn on her. She is then chased home by the mob, she tries to get Jean to open the door but his to scared as the mob assaults her. This again links into the themes of misogyny in the film as Jeanne is assaulted during this sequence and doesn’t help her. Also, this scene also showcases the feudal oppression as the village uprise against want they think is their oppressor. There are also links to the themes of moral depravity as everyone just descends into inanity in the film. There are also the themes of which hunting in the film as she is being chased by the mob and Jean doesn’t open the door because his sacred leading to her being assaulted. This links into the themes of misogyny in the film as she is brutalised and exploited by society in the film. This also showcases feudal oppression as the villages want to direct their rage at an object as they can’t get out of there horrible situation. This also clearly shows moral depravity as normal people descend into insanity and destroy everything in its path. This further incapsulates the themes of which hunting in the film as this person is used as an example goes against the horrible oppression of their lives. Jean then escapes the soldiers that come to arrest her and runs and hides into a forest. She is ruined, decoyed and angry, you just feel sorry for her in the film she has a bad life and it’s destroying her. This links into the themes of misogyny with her being used as an escape goat as people try to destroy her. The themes of feudal oppression are also shown as she is exploited by the royal system that controls her. There are also links to moral depravity as these people try and exploit and ultimately destroys her. This also showcases the links to witchcraft as she is persecuted as way of using her as a sacrificial lamb.
Jeanne then makes a deal with the devil where he will make her his wife exchange for magical powers. They have sex and she is inflected by sin and depravity as sown by symbolic 70s culture and she became reborn as the devil’s wife. This links into the themes of misogyny and moral depravity. Within the film as Jeanne is exploited within the film as sex is used to control her as a servant of the devil. The moral depravity is also shown as she descends into a sexual depravity linking to demon possession making her a vengeful spirit. Angry and hated, Jeanne is disgusted by herself at becoming the devil’s bride however, the devil says to her that anger and hatred are not ugly and that she is beautiful. This again links into the themes of misogyny and moral depravity as the devil exploits her using sexuality to control her, as well as showcasing how through the devil she becomes a witch that exacts vengeance. The theme of feudal oppression is also shown with Jean becoming a farmer again as the black death spreads throughout the town destroying everything. This shows the terrible lives of the lower classes and the exploitation by the monarchy as their labour and lives are used and abused by the system and its rulers. One of the villagers comes and sees Jeanne who dies, and she brings him back to life, causing the other villagers to come to her to heal themselves. This highlights feudal oppression as the people in charge do not care about the poor and really on Jeanne. In response to this the kingdom becomes angry that they are losing power over the villagers because of Jeanne and her magic, linking into the themes of feudal oppression in that how the people in these kingdoms wants to control the poor.
The villagers then flock to witness her miracles as the queen realises who she is as she makes the town descend into depravity as they all embrace in an orgy. This further showcases the themes of moral depravity in the film as it breaks down the barriers of society showcases human nature as well as showing how that nature can descend into something bad, as people are helped by Jeanne, but the nobles want to kill or use her showcasing how feudal oppression controls people lives and that rebellion is necessary in society. A page then goes to Jeanne, he loves a barons wife wants her to help him get her to lover her, she then makes her as love potion and they have sex however, they are killed when the baron found out. This further links into the themes of misogyny in how he wants to control a woman to have his own sexual dreams come true. Feudal oppression is also shown here as he cannot be with the baron’s wife due to social status. Moral depravity is also here with the explicit sexual imagery and the desires of lust throughout the film. Jean is used by the king to manipulate Jeanne saying that the king will forgive her. However, Jean also still has genuine feelings for Jeanne, she thinks an idiot for believing him but has sex with him and they fall in love all over again.
In exchange for sharing her cure for the plague the baron offers to make Jeanne the second highest noble in the land. When she refuses and says she wishes to take over the world, she is not fooled by the baron and wants power and control. This links into the themes of rebellion as she wants to destroy the monarchical system and the oppression it causes. From this Jeanne is sentenced to burn at the streak for angering the baron. This links into the themes of misogyny as she is subjected to a torturous death for witchcraft linking to real events. This also links to feudal oppression as she is killed by the people in charge of the society to kill witches. Moral depravity is also shown as she is killed for the crime of witchcraft showcasing how easily people can be put to death in this society. The theme of which hunting is shown as Jeanne is used as an escape goat to make a political point to oppress the people. Jeanne is burnt at the steak. This reenforces the themes of misogyny in the film as she can easily be sentenced and executed by the royals. This also demonstrates feudal oppression in the film as Jeanne is used as a wah of symbolically controlling the people. Moral depravity is also shown as Jeanne’s punishment is a volent death that is celebrated. Witch hunting is also shown here as they believe she is evil and uses this as a way of using her as the problem for everything. Jean is then killed by the barons’ soldiers when he tries retaliating which angers the villagers. Feudal oppression is shown here as a normal person is symbolically murdered for protecting society. Moral depravity is also here with people taking delight at her horrific death and torment This also links into which hunting as she is killed due to people disliking of her. Jean is then killed by the barons’ soldiers when he tries to retaliate which angers the villagers. This links into feudal oppression as the barons has killed people that tries to go against him. These murders demonstrate moral depravity as people are killed to maintain the control of the monarchy. This also shows rebellion as Jean relates against the system which causes other people to do so to. The film ends with Jeanne crying as she dies looking at her dead husband, as the villagers faces turn into Jeanne as her death was the catalyst for the French revolution especially involving women. This demonstrates the themes of misogyny throughout the film as she is burnt to death by using her femineity to gain power and influence. This also demonstrates under oppression within the film has she symbolically becomes a flag for rebellion in her death as she is mattered. Moral depravity is also shown here due to her execution being burnt alive showcasing the deplorable acts of the time. Rebellion is also here as the French revolution was sparked from her death as her sacrifice was not in vain. Witch hunting is shown here as society but her do death to make an example of symbolically crushing any kind of uprising only to inadvertently spark the biggest uprising ever.
Belladonna of Sadness is a film about how misogyny can be used to cause horrific volent acts. It showcases how feudal oppression of people can destroy their lives causing the need for action. The film shows the moral depravity that people in society can sub come to if under these evil ideologies. The film is also about rebellion and the need for revolution against the forces that govern peoples lives and how the dangers of witch hunting can destroy everyone and everything.
