Sakura finally starts getting more screen time, and that’s both a blessing and a curse; Sakura is a genuinely compelling character in this film, displayed with much more nuance and feeling than ever before. Her tragic upbringing, and the abuse she suffered, make for truly haunting moments within the film, and some deeply complex, difficult interactions. And that becomes problematic because the film fails to honor both her suffering and her position as the heroine. Lost Butterfly trips over its own feet, trying to both communicate her trauma in a candid way and yet simultaneously sexualize her! A victim of sexual abuse! It’s demeaning and gross. And despite her being the heroine, she’s constantly treated as a damsel in distress.
Disappointing as that is, the film is so well written and executed in every other regard that is can overcome its bad moments and themes. Beyond Fate/Zero, this is the darkest and most interesting chapter of the Fate series. It’s undoubtedly a masterful work and something I recommend watching.
