kimmy Posted October 9, 2012 Report Posted October 9, 2012 This is a 2009 animated feature made by independent animator Nina Paley, and it was recommended on a blog I often read, which featured another of Nina's videos today. It blends an ancient Hindu myth about star-crossed lovers Sita and Rama, a modern-day story based on Nina Paley's own divorce, and the songs of 1920s jazz star Annette Hanshaw. If that sounds like a weird mix ... it is. And yet it's strangely wonderful. The film blends a variety of styles of animation. Scenes set in ancient India resemble ancient Indian art... Sita's song-and-dance numbers resemble Golden-Age cartoons (Sita herself looks a lot like Betty Boop... except with larger Boops.) The modern-day scenes involving Paley are drawn in a sparse style that looks a lot like a 4-panel newspaper comic strip. The shadow-puppet narrator scenes have yet another distinct style. Then there are musical interludes that are like an LSD trip or something. One of the highlights is the three ... shadow-puppets, the blurb calls them, who explain and editorialize about Sita's story. They are voiced by modern-day Hindus who have apparently ad-libbed discussion on plot-points and bicker with each other over the details of the story, and they're hilarious. Another highlight is the "Intermission", which ... well, I can't even begin. Roger Ebert declared this one of the best films of 2009. I don't recall what movies I watched in 2009, but this was definitely a treat. It's 80 minutes I hadn't planned on spending, but decided to watch a few minutes, and then couldn't stop watching. Paley has made the whole thing available for free on Youtube. -k Quote (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻ Friendly forum facilitator! ┬──┬◡ﾉ(° -°ﾉ)
cybercoma Posted October 9, 2012 Report Posted October 9, 2012 Thanks for sharing this. When I get some time, I'm going to sit down and watch this. If you get a chance, you should hunt down and watch Persepolis (that is if you haven't seen it already). Quote
kimmy Posted October 9, 2012 Author Report Posted October 9, 2012 Thanks for sharing this. When I get some time, I'm going to sit down and watch this. If you get a chance, you should hunt down and watch Persepolis (that is if you haven't seen it already). Looks interesting. -k Quote (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻ Friendly forum facilitator! ┬──┬◡ﾉ(° -°ﾉ)
cybercoma Posted October 9, 2012 Report Posted October 9, 2012 Yeah. Despite being animated, it won Best Foreign Language film at the Academy Awards one year. It's truly great. Quote
bleeding heart Posted October 10, 2012 Report Posted October 10, 2012 Yeah, Persepolis is really good. Sita looks good...must check it out. Quote “There is a limit to how much we can constantly say no to the political masters in Washington. All we had was Afghanistan to wave. On every other file we were offside. Eventually we came onside on Haiti, so we got another arrow in our quiver." --Bill Graham, Former Canadian Foreign Minister, 2007
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