In its groundbreaking 50th year a special screening of Belladonna of Sadness.

Made by Mushi Productions, the makers of Astroboy, their final film was a last throw of the dice for the studio – and the huge reduction in budget resulted in a gorgeous, sensual watercolour style. It’s a riff on the story of Joan of Arc and Satanism and witchcraft in the middle ages, focusing on a peasant girl who makes a pact with the devil after a violent assault. Definitely not one for the easily offended, it features an amazing Japanese psych rock soundtrack that, along with the far out animation, is sure to blow your mind.

One of the great masterpieces of Japanese anime, Belladonna of Sadness is a psychedelic, erotic experiment that has been hailed as one of the most innovative and imaginative animated films of all time.