Sita Sings the Blues (2008)

dir. and writ. Nina Paley
writ. Valmiki (book - Ramayana)
feat. vocals of Annette Henshaw

This inventive animated feature breaks down the Ramayana epic, telling it through three main animation styles including shadow puppet narrators, miniature Mughal paintings, and cartoony music video segments set to the songs of 20s jazz songstress, Annette Henshaw. In another layer, the director, Nina Paley, tells of her own dissolving relationship, animated in what appears to be a cross between the shaky pencils of Bill Plympton and the doughy figures of Cathy Guisewite.

Much of the art is beautiful and compelling, richly colored and inviting, the frequent shifts welcome to break up what otherwise might become monotonous. The three competing narrators make for the most engaging portions of the film. Their overlapping narration, frequent confusion and corrections, and questioning of the motivations of the characters in the epic give the impression of overhearing a real conversation between a group of thoughtful, argumentative and hilarious Indian history students. The sections move remarkably quickly, with facts, cracks and quips occasionally lost in the fray, though not particularly missed given the delightfully entertaining overarching effect. The painted Mughal style imagery is beautifully rendered, combining seamlessly with the simpler shadow play and lending a touch of authenticity to the historical aspect of the story.

The bright, clean vector graphic music videos are lovely and hypnotic, with amusing perfect circles that make up Sita's body and flat bright colors. However, Henshaw isn't especially dynamic as a singer, her music and lyrics often dull and quickly redundant. The film could have used a singer with more range or various voices, a choice that would not have felt inconsistent given the leaps from style to style. Similarly, the portions relating to Paley's own life could use a lift, both in the animation and the character development. It smacks of a creator wishing to use real pain for effect but too shy to reveal anything of substance. She whines and mopes. He is dull and distant. That's it, the whole time. Either they are the most boring people on the planet or something has been kept from the viewer.

Despite these shortcomings, the movie's fluidity exhibits a powerful charm that quickly restores engagement after letting the grip slide in the lesser moments, holding on and coercing a silly grin.