Lady Snowblood (OmU)

In the organizer's words:

Original title: Shurayuki-hime, Japan 1973, D: Toshiya Fujita, 97 min, DCP, OmU

LADY SNOWBLOOD is a classic revenge epic that shaped Japanese samurai and so-called rape-and-revenge cinema of the 1970s and influenced numerous imitators such as Tarantino's KILL BILL. The title alludes to "Shirayuki-hime" (Snow White) and "Shura" (Indian demon Asura). After her family is brutally murdered, Yuki grows up with former samurai and, driven by a desire for revenge, searches for the criminals who wronged her. Based on the manga of the same name by Kazuo Koike and Kazuo Kamimura, the film impresses with stylized violence and highly aestheticized fight scenes and illuminates the complex relationship between the heroine's thirst for blood and her desire for inner peace.
In LADY SNOWBLOOD, white symbolizes both Yuki's innocence and her desire for revenge. While white is often associated with purity, in Asia it also stands for death. In combination with intense red tones, it intensifies the bloody effects of her inner struggle, making Yuki's vendetta a disturbing yet purifying act.

Trigger warning: R16 (Strong depictions of violence and bloodshed)

Supporting film: Meditation, Director: Jordan Belson, USA 1971, 5 minutes, 16mm, original version

Price information:

Free admission, donation requested