Belladonna of Sadness (1973) 2016
Directed by
Eiichi Yamamoto
Made by
Cinelicious Pics
Plot Summary
Jeanne and Jean are a newlywed couple living in a serene rural village in medieval France. Tragically, on Jeanne’s wedding night, she endures a horrific gang-rape orchestrated by the local baron and his courtiers. When she returns to her husband Jean, filled with terror, he tries to soothe her fears, suggesting they can forget the past and start anew. However, in a shocking twist, Jean strangles her into unconsciousness, overwhelmed by his own turmoil, before fleeing their home in shame and distress.
That very night, Jeanne starts experiencing eerie visions of a spirit with a phallic head who claims to offer her power. This spirit reveals that it has heard her silent plea for help and assures her that it can grow as large and formidable as she desires. Consequently, while famine grips the village and the baron increases taxes to support his war efforts, the couple’s fortunes inexplicably rise. Formerly trapped in the grind of menial labor, Jean is suddenly appointed as the tax collector. Yet his fortunes take a dark turn when the baron brutally cuts off Jean’s hand, punishing him for failing to extract adequate money from the villagers, which plunges Jean into despair and drunkenness.
Jeanne encounters the spirit once again—this time, it has grown in size—and is coerced into a troubling exchange where the spirit rapes her in return for wealth. Despite relinquishing her body to the spirit, Jeanne strongly asserts that her soul still belongs to Jean and God. In a bold move, she borrows a significant sum from a usurer, immersing herself in the trade and ultimately becoming the true authority in the village. When the baron triumphantly returns from war, his wife, consumed by jealousy over the reverence Jeanne commands, accuses her of witchcraft, rallying the townsfolk against her. As chaos ensues, Jeanne desperately attempts to return to her home, only to be refused entry, leading to her brutal assault.
That night, as soldiers close in to apprehend her, Jeanne escapes into the forest. In the wilderness, she forges a pact with the spirit, who unveils himself as the Devil. This deal grants her magical abilities, and upon returning to a village now ravaged by the bubonic plague, Jeanne creates a miraculous cure for the sickness, drawing the villagers to her for assistance. Winning their loyalty, Jeanne leads them in wild rites.
In a twist of fate, a page who has fallen for the baron’s wife asks Jeanne for her help to win her love. She provides him with a love potion, which results in the baron’s wife succumbing to his advances. Unfortunately, when the baron discovers their affair, he murders both of them. Frustrated by Jeanne’s burgeoning power, the baron sends Jean to invite her for a meeting. In an emotional reunion, the couple reconciles, and Jeanne agrees to meet with the baron. However, when he offers her the position of the second-highest noble in exchange for her cure for the plague, Jeanne boldly declines, expressing her ambition to conquer the entire world.
This refusal ignites the baron’s fury, resulting in a death sentence for Jeanne, who is to be burned at the stake. Jean valiantly attempts to protect her but is slain by the baron’s soldiers, inciting a riot among the villagers. As Jeanne is engulfed in flames, a haunting transformation occurs—the faces of the female villagers morph into Jeanne’s likeness, fulfilling a priest’s ominous prophecy: if a witch dies clinging to her pride, her soul will endure and infect those around her. Centuries later, the enduring impact of Jeanne’s spirit is heralded as a catalyst for the French Revolution.
Timeline
Jeanne's Wedding Night
Jeanne and Jean, a newlywed couple, experience a moment meant to be filled with joy. However, their wedding night takes a dark turn when Jeanne is attacked and gang-raped by the local baron and his courtiers, shattering their peaceful existence.
Jean's Disturbing Reaction
After Jeanne returns home, traumatized by the horrific events of the night, Jean tries to calm her fears and suggests they can start anew. In a shocking act of violence, Jean, overwhelmed by his emotions, strangles Jeanne into unconsciousness before fleeing their home.
The Spirit's Offer
Soon after the traumatic night, Jeanne begins to have eerie visions of a spirit with a phallic head. The spirit claims it has heard her silent plea for help and offers her power, promising that it can grow as large and formidable as she desires, leading Jeanne into a dark pact.
Jean's Sudden Fortune
Amid a famine in the village, the couple's fortunes mysteriously rise. Jean is unexpectedly appointed as the tax collector, allowing them to escape the cycle of menial labor, yet this newfound status comes with hidden dangers and responsibilities.
The Baron’s Cruel Punishment
Jean's new role as tax collector quickly turns dark when he fails to gather enough funds for the baron. As punishment, the baron brutally cuts off Jean's hand, plunging him into despair and leading him down a path of drunkenness and sorrow.
Jeanne's Bargain with the Spirit
Desperate for power and wealth, Jeanne again encounters the spirit, which has grown larger. She is coerced into a troubling exchange where the spirit rapes her, yet fiercely asserts that her soul remains tied to both Jean and God, highlighting her inner conflict.
Jeanne Becomes a Merchant
Jeanne, driven by a desire for independence and authority, borrows a significant sum from a usurer. Entering into trade, she quickly rises to become the true power in the village, transforming her life and that of the townsfolk around her.
Baron's Wife's Jealous Accusation
As Jeanne's influence grows, the baron's wife, consumed by jealousy, accuses her of witchcraft. The baron returns from war, and together they rally the townsfolk to turn against Jeanne, creating chaos in the village.
Brutal Assault on Jeanne
In the midst of the turmoil, Jeanne desperately tries to return home. However, she is violently refused entry, resulting in a brutal assault that reflects the villagers' misguided rage against her newfound power.
Jeanne's Escape into the Forest
As soldiers close in on her, Jeanne makes a daring escape into the nearby forest. It is here that she forges a pact with the spirit, who reveals himself as the Devil, granting her magical abilities and transforming her destiny.
Jeanne's Miraculous Cure
Returning to a village ravaged by the bubonic plague, Jeanne uses her newfound powers to create a miraculous cure for the illness. The villagers, recognizing her as their savior, flock to her for help, and she gains their loyalty.
The Love Potion Incident
A page in love with the baron's wife seeks Jeanne's help, and she provides him with a love potion. The potion leads to an affair that ends in tragedy when the baron discovers it and murders both individuals in a fit of rage.
Emotional Reunion with Jean
The baron, frustrated by Jeanne's growing power, sends Jean to invite her for a meeting. In a deeply emotional reunion, Jeanne and Jean reconcile, rekindling their connection before Jeanne grapples with her ambitions and the baron's threats.
Jeanne's Bold Refusal
At the meeting, the baron offers Jeanne a prestigious position in exchange for her cure to the plague. In a moment of defiance, Jeanne refuses, declaring her ambition to conquer the world, which incites the baron's wrath and sets her fate in motion.
Jeanne's Execution
The baron, enraged by Jeanne's refusal, sentences her to death by burning at the stake. In a tragic turn of events, Jean attempts to protect her but is killed by soldiers, leading to a riot amongst the villagers as Jeanne's pride leads to her martyrdom.
Characters
Jeanne
Jeanne is a tragic heroine who evolves from a fearful bride into a formidable force within her village. Subjected to horror and betrayal, she ultimately embraces her power and strives for autonomy. Her resilience and ambition contrast sharply with the oppressive forces around her, making her a complex and compelling character.
Jean
Jean is Jeanne's husband, caught in a whirlwind of emotions following the traumatic events of their wedding night. His initial intention to support Jeanne becomes overshadowed by his own despair. Ultimately, Jean's character reflects the struggle of a man confronted with overwhelming societal pressures and personal shame.
The Baron
The baron epitomizes the feudal oppression that reigns over the village. He is a figure of tyranny, indulging in his power while inflicting misery on others. His jealousy toward Jeanne's rising influence exemplifies the dark nature of authority and the lengths to which he will go to maintain control.
Setting
Time period
Medieval Period, leading to the French Revolution
The events unfold during the medieval period, a time of social hierarchy and tumultuous political landscapes. Famine, war, and local tyrants shape the lives of common people, setting the stage for rebellion and change. The impact of Jeanne's story ultimately echoes through time, being recognized as a precursor to the French Revolution.
Location
medieval France
The movie is set in medieval France, a time characterized by feudal systems and social strife. This rural village serves as a backdrop for Jeanne and Jean's tragic story, reflecting the struggles against oppressive authorities and the rising tides of revolution. Known for its picturesque landscapes, the village is deeply affected by the overarching themes of power and injustice.
Themes
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Oppression
Oppression is a central theme of the movie, manifesting through Jeanne's brutal experiences at the hands of the local baron and the patriarchal society. The film depicts the struggle against overpowering forces and the societal norms that allow injustice to thrive. Jeanne's journey reflects a fight not only for personal freedom but also against systemic inequality.
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Transformation
Transformation plays a vital role as Jeanne evolves from a victim into a powerful figure through her pact with the spirit. This metamorphosis highlights both the potential for personal empowerment as well as the darker implications of wielding such power. Her evolution signifies resilience against adversity, yet raises questions about the costs of such change.
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Revenge
Revenge acts as a driving force in the narrative, especially as Jeanne navigates her tumultuous relationship with the baron. Her quest for vengeance not only fuels her ambition but also leads to her eventual downfall. The theme underscores the complexities of morality and the cycle of violence that perpetuates further suffering.
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