An adaptation of a classic British sitcom and an erotic Japanese animated film open July 22 at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center.
The films, “Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie” and “Belladonna of Sadness,” show through Aug. 4 and July 28, respectively.
“Absolutely Fabulous” stars Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Sauders as Patsy and Edina, who are growing old disgracefully.
Based on the British sitcom of the same name, “Absolutely Fabulous” follows Edina and Patsy — each still oozing glitz and glamour — living the high life, shopping, drinking and clubbing around London’s trendiest hotspots. While attending an uber fashionable launch party, Edina and Patsy are blamed for knocking Kate Moss into the Thames River and become entangled in a media storm.
Relentlessly pursued by paparazzi, Edina and Patsy flee penniless to the French Riviera, where they hatch a plan to escape and live the high life forever.
“Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie” is rated R for language, sexual references and some drug use.
“Belladonna of Sadness” is an animated, 1973 erotic Japanese film about one woman’s triumph and ruin. The film unfolds as a series of watercolor paintings that bleed and twist together.
The film is the last in the adult-themed “Animerama” trilogy produced by Osama Tezuka, the godfather of Japanese anime and manga, and directed Eiichi Yamamoto, Tezuka’s longtime collaborator.
In “Belladonna,” Jeanne (voiced by Aiko Nagayama) is an innocent woman raped by the local lord on her wedding night. To take revenge, she makes a pact with the devil (voiced by Tatsuya Nkadi) and transforms into a black-roped vision of madness and desire.
Not for the easily offended, “Belladonna” is fueled by a Japanese psych-rock soundtrack by noted avant-garde jazz composer Masahiko Satoh. The film was restored by Cinelicious Pics using the original 35mm camera negative and sound elements. It includes eight minutes of surreal and explicit footage cut from the original film.
“Belladonna of Sadness” is not rated. Viewer discretion is advised as the film contains adult subject matter and explicit content.
For more information on movies at the Ross, including show times, click here or call 402-472-5353.
