Movie Log: Sita Sings the Blues

We've hit the point where it's possible for one person to make a movie -- except for voices, Nina Paley was entirely responsible for Sita Sings the Blues.

It's an animated movie, probably mostly done with Flash, that intertwines the story of the Ramayana with Paley's own recent break-up, giving it all a soundtrack of blues songs sung in the '20s by Annette Hanshaw. It's narrated by three youngish-sounding Indians -- who don't entirely agree, or precisely remember, the story of the Ramayana -- and it's absolutely wonderful.

It's a movie that is even better the less you know about it; I tried not to explain it to The Wife just before we watched it, and I think it was better for that. (And it's hard to describe to begin with; it has a non-linear structure and the three major elements seem like they shouldn't go together.)

To be blunt, if you like movies, you should find the time to see Sita Sings the Blues. It quite possibly will be the first big signpost for a major, exciting new direction for movies, and it's just really, really well done.
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Listening to: The Loom - Song For The Winter Sun
via FoxyTunes