Belladonna of Sadness

In 17th-century feudal Japan, a beautiful village girl, Nami, is preparing for her wedding to a young man named Sabazuki. Despite the tranquility of the village, Nami's joy is short-lived. As she is led to her wedding chamber, a group of marauders, led by the evil feudal lord, Kozo's men, brutally attack the village. During the chaos, Kozo, a powerful and lustful nobleman, rapes the trembling Nami, shattering her innocence and disrupting her life forever. The aftermath of this horrific event leaves no stone unturned in its devastating impact. Sabazuki, feeling guilty and ashamed, ultimately abandons Nami, unable to cope with the shame he feels due to Kozo's actions. With a broken heart, Nami soon faces a life of solitude, shunned by the villagers, who are afraid to show her sympathy due to the societal norms that dictate the strict treatment of those who have been 'tainted' by the devil's touch. As the years go by, Nami is banished from the village and struggles to survive, forced to fend for herself with nothing but her own determination to live. It is here that she crosses paths with a mysterious sorceress who possesses magical powers. The sorceress, it is revealed, is in league with the devil, known as 'The Red Horned Devil'. The sorceress offers Nami a deal – in exchange for her soul, the devil will grant her the power to exact her revenge on the man who ruined her life, Kozo. Nami's journey takes a drastic turn when she accepts the devil's offer, trading away her immortal soul in order to possess a magical ability. From that moment on, Nami begins to transform into her 'true form', with long, flowing black hair and skin as white as alabaster. Embracing her newfound powers, Nami sets out to exact her revenge on Kozo and anyone else who has wronged her. As she navigates the treacherous landscape of ancient Japan, her powers continue to grow stronger, allowing her to manipulate the forces of nature, bend reality to her will, and unleash hellish wrath upon those who oppose her. Kozo, upon hearing about Nami's alleged demonic powers, begins to hunt her down, driven by a twisted desire to possess her. As Nami wreaks havoc on those who wronged her, Kozo, fueled by his ego and lust for power, becomes increasingly obsessed with her. Their epic struggle unfolds across 17th-century Japan, as Nami, with her newfound powers, seeks to unleash her wrath upon the world, driven by a thirst for vengeance and a desire for justice. Throughout this tumultuous period, the lines blur between good and evil, leaving the question as to whether Nami, fueled by her rage and a hunger for power, has become the very evil she once sought to avenge. The movie "Belladonna of Sadness" is a surreal, psychedelic journey into the depths of human emotion, depicting a world where love, lust, and the darkness of human nature collide. This critically acclaimed anime from 1973 is more than just a tale of revenge – it's an exploration of the fragile human psyche, the nature of evil, and the devastating consequences of unchecked desire.