This 1973 Japanese animation, never before released in the U.S., graphically renders the story of a woman’s degradation and revenge.
Words tend to fail when trying to describe “Belladonna of Sadness,” the 1973 Japanese animated feature that’s just now getting a much-belated American release.
To say it’s psychedelic doesn’t begin to capture the watercolor washes or snaky line drawings that define its extremely era-specific visual style. To say it’s erotic doesn’t begin to capture the cornucopia of carnality it depicts, which makes, in the annals of cartoon sex, “Fritz the Cat” look like “Felix the Cat.” To say it’s problematic doesn’t begin to capture the disturbing degree to which, especially in its early scenes, the film lingers over the degradation, sexual and otherwise, of its female protagonist.
The post Belladonna of Sadness blows minds, turns stomachs appeared first on Artslandia - Portland's Performing Arts Guide.