Very few films can boldly claim to be completely innovative and original. AnimationWhen you look at the history of animation, you will always find “firsts”, but it is rare to stand out and go against tradition to make something completely new. Films like red turtle, Hedgehog in the fogand Belleville triplets They all exist as a testament to the art form and what it is capable of when creators challenge themselves to push the boundaries of what the medium can do.
One such film that defied convention upon its release is the 1973 film Anime Feature film, Belladonna sadness. The film proved to be ahead of its time, featuring a remarkably complex visual style and tackling taboo subjects. Here's how the avant-garde anime drama went from obscurity and financial ruin to decades-old rebirth to critical acclaim and critical success.
Bella Donna's sad story and events
A mature and psychedelic anime that blends elements of tragedy, drama and fantasy. Belladonna sadness The film revolves around the life of the peasant woman Jean in medieval France. The events of the film begin on her wedding day to her husband Jean, where the young woman gains innocence from a corrupt feudal lord who uses the excuse of not paying taxes to achieve his desires with Jean. In her grief, she met the Devil, who offered Jane supernatural powers.Now, with a renewed purpose, Jane seeks to sexually liberate other women in her village from the oppressive patriarchal system. Belladonna sadness It is a quote from Jules Michelet's 19th century treatise “The Witch”.
“Jane went to town to sell her thread. The town was suffering from famine again that year, but the lord was still collecting taxes. The people were so desperate and weak that they could not cry out. Jane was the only one working.” Narrator in Bella Donna's melancholy novel
Directed by Eiichi YamamotoBelladonna sadness Created by Mushi Productions, a studio founded by influential animator and manga godfather, Osamu TezukaThe psychedelic, avant-garde art was created by Kuni Fukai, who used watercolors and simple anime-style backgrounds to give the film its unique look. Belladonna sadness It is the third film in the “Animerama” series, which also included One Thousand and One Nights (1969), and Cleopatra (1970), both of which are considered important works in their own right.
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Founded in 1961, Mushi Productions was respected for bringing Tezuka's works to the screen, including releases such as Astro Boy (1963-1966), Kimba the white lion (1965-1967), princess knight (1967-1968). However, 'The 1970s proved to be tough. For the company, with Tezuka's departure, fierce competition, changing trends, and over-expansion, which led to the bankruptcy of the production company Soon after Belladonna sadnesswhich had a budget of 80,000,000 yen (331,976,168.13 yen with inflation or $2,200,000+ USD). While the studio made a minor comeback, only to close again, for a time and place, Mushi Productions was at the forefront of creating some of the best anime films.
The stunningly beautiful anime was ignored upon its release.
Despite the approach to animation that is now considered pioneering, Belladonna sadness He was Mushi Productions' Big Financial Failureis often attributed to the studio's bankruptcy. The failure is primarily attributed to its experimental style, erotic content, and difficult themes, which caused problems finding distribution; Mushi Productions' previous film, CleopatraThe film received an “X” rating, which hurt its chances of distribution.
However, the release also came during a difficult time for the anime industry, with The shift to TV viewing has many studios struggling.The mixed reception at the time, coupled with an already tense market and Mushi Productions' inability to find worldwide distribution for the film, was a death sentence for both parties. Belladonna sadness And the studio behind him.
Belladonna sadness This piece of lost artifact from the 1970s remained for decades. However, After a great 4K restoration By Cinelicious and a subsequent preview of its restoration at Japan Cuts on July 10, 2015, Many have invested in revising the content.The revised images from the film that had previously existed in small circles in shared pirated releases allowed the art to shine as intended and opened the anime up to wider discussion.
How Bella Donna Sorrow Was Ahead of Her Time
As a visual experience, it is difficult to fully express the extent of the project's ambition. Belladonna sadness It was at that time. Although fairly simple, The style was unlike anything else released during the 1970s.especially from Japanese animation studios. Watercolor and silhouette animation are still rare, due to the time and difficulty involved. Innovative animation can be very time-consuming, as in The Tale of Princess Kaguyawhich took a full 10 years to make.
While the duration of production has not been reported, Belladonna of SadnessThis was supposed to run for several years as part of the planned Rama anime series, which ran from 1969 to 1973. However, This commitment to a unique vision can be seen in the final product, with a wide range of beautiful landscapes and colour motifs on the meticulously drawn figures, all complemented by a masterfully crafted original orchestral score..
“Men have always loved war. The Lord marched in magnificent ranks with his soldiers and his conscripted farmers. It is always the women who are left behind to suffer.” Narrator of Bella Donna's melancholy novel
One of the reasons Belladonna sadness At first I had a hard time dealing with the uncomfortable topics it covered when it came out.The film has sparked much recent discussion about its feminist themes. In an article by Anna Bell Lilly on Medium , she notes that “some viewers may see the film as an exploration of women's sexual liberation.” However, she adds that “others may interpret the film as a manifestation of extreme sexism. Jane never has real power; instead, she surrenders to the devil as a less than subtle symbol of male dominance, and is always subject to the whims of men.”
This sentiment is often echoed in many other reviews and thoughtful reflections posted online about the film, with Many people form a love-hate relationship with Belladonna sadnessAt the same time, the film was intended to open up discussion about feminism, which was considered taboo in anime. This may also contribute to its inconsistency in dealing with sensitive topics, especially when viewed in a modern context with decades of later anime that challenged the same themes more elegantly.
Should I watch Belladonna of Sadness?
Decades after its release, Belladonna sadness It remains one of the most amazing anime features ever.Almost every frame of the 80+ minute film is a work of art. However, some of the criticisms leveled at the film upon release remain valid, as the film’s slow pace is more than a bit of a patience test for modern audiences compared to the 1970s. Furthermore, the themes it explores remain largely open to interpretation; some have found reason to praise the film, while others believe it lacks the competence to convey its themes of female empowerment, a stark contrast to those who consider it either subtle or exploitative in approach.
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Turn a blind eye, Belladonna sadness It is a work of art in the true sense of the word.with a rich, memorable color palette that contrasts starkly with the weight of the themes it explores. Like any piece of art, your mileage will depend on what the viewer gets themselves into. Despite gaining a cult following among anime fans, the film is still unavailable in terms of streaming options. You can rent Belladonna sadness On YouTube Or purchase a copy through the Crunchyroll store or Amazon.
