I'm watching Sita Sings the Blues, an animated film by Nina Paley. It's been DVR'd ever since the March television premier on PBS. And on this breezy, slightly overcast Sunday evening, I've finally gotten around to watching it. Hurray!
The quirky animated film is Paley's interpretation of the great Hindu epic, the Ramayana. The story of the epic is seamlessly accompanied by the 1920's jazz vocals of Annette Hanshaw and a modern fusion desi music. I have to say that the film is a wonderful feast for the eyes (the animation is so CUTE), remarkably humorous and also very touching. Paley uses the halting (yet fluidly humorous) storytelling of three shadow puppets (Paley's friends I presume) to narrate the story of the Ramayana. THIS is a highlight of the film and very enjoyable for a variety of reasons, among which is the candid commentary and divergent analysis of the shadow puppets. They engage viewers by cultivating an atmosphere of an intimate gathering of friends, replete with humor and vacillating discussion. The scenes illustrating the story of the Ramayana are intermingled with a parallel (and very personal) storyline that divulges the dissolution of Paley's own marriage, hence the tagline "the greatest break-up story every told." I'm not sure to what extent the film may be deemed sacrilegious by Hindus, but I thoroughly enjoyed it for some reasons beyond the accomplishment of excellent execution. First, because it is always a courageous feat for an artist to interpret and adapt a sacred cultural text outside of her own background. Second, because Paley lays out her personal connection to the story. Third, its brings forth the topic of cultural canons.
As Americans try to engage and understand the rest of the world, there is no better way of doing this than simultaneously attempting to learn more about the cultural canons of other nations and civilizations. We may not only learn a thing or two about other people, but ourselves too; Sita Sings the Blues demonstrates and encourages this kind of personalization in a good way. We can dispel the ignorance that may blur our own perspectives and also enhance our ability to empathize on many levels (individual, collective, etc) - if we do aim to be truly cosmopolitan people, this is a great way to do it.
Paley is bringing the Ramayana to a wider audience that will hopefully be intrigued enough to read more about Hindu epics and the faith itself. For that and more I really really appreciate and like this film.
You can attend a screening of a SSTB by checking on the website OR watch it online! check out the website: http://www.sitasingstheblues.com/
Next: Mother of the Believers
2 comments:
This looks neat! I'd like to see it. =D
Aww! I just saw the first thirty minutes. You're right - the animation is really cute!
And I should've mentioned this in my last comment: what you said about cultural canons is right on. I've been reading A People's History of the United States (and blogging about it from time to time in people in the pages, in case you were wondering where that link came from). I can't help but wonder how many traditions whose stories we've ignored or annihilated, though each one might show us something new about being human.
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