Review of Sita Sings the Blues (2008) by Davey M — 12 May 2009

In the wake of personal animated feature films like Persepolis and Waltz with Bashir, Nina Paley delivers us this--possibly the most incredible film experience I've seen in years, animated or live action.

With the help of a versatile palette of colors and drawing styles, Paley spins the centuries old tale of The Ramayana, a story about the faithful wife of an Indian prince who is betrayed, abandoned then subsequently learns to move on.

In a parallel storyline, Paley reveals her own personal experiences and how they uncannily resemble the ancient fable. To bridge the two story-lines, three shadow puppets (acting like some hilarious mix of a Greek chorus and a coffee-table social group) lend their insight.

The stroke of genius (and reference to the title) is in Paley's utilization of songs by famed 20's blues vocalist Annette Hanshaw, whose canon of work also thematically resembles the struggles of the wife and Paley.

These songs are then put into dazzling animated musical numbers (which are more endearing, dazzling, funny and offbeat than anything you'd find in a Disney flick) with Sita (the wife) dolled up to look like a Betty Boop of Bollywood.

This modern mixed-media masterpiece, which you can look up and watch RIGHT NOW on the internet, will have your heart leaping for joy. What an achievement! ...that's all!