pink rickshaw

sita sings the blues

"Say you're glad you you met me.
It will be so soon that you quite forget me.
This I'll impart to you.
I give me heart to you forever.
You wouldn't fool me, would you?"-Annette Hanshaw

 

The poster for Nina Paley's indie animated film, Sita Sings The Blues, describes it as "the greatest break-up story ever told." Now while every girl I know, probably thinks she holds the title for that, this delightful movie may take the cake. Paley's feature uses several animation styles to present two parallel stories of great heartbreak. One is that of Sita's (Rama's wife from the Hindu epic, The Ramayana). For those familiar with the Sanskrit tale, you will be surprised to see an almost Betty Boop inspired Sita, singing and dancing to the recordings of 1920's jazz singer Annette Hanshaw. For those of you familiar with Sita's story and those of who aren't, it goes a bit like this according to the film. Girl marries boy (Rama) but is banished to the forest with him. Gets kidnapped by evil king of Sri Lanka. Finally gets won back by hubby after one very long war. Gets accused of being unfaithful. Proves her fidelity by jumping into a fire. Finally becomes queen. Rama apparently still has lingering doubts (jumping into a fire isn't enough). Gets banished to the forest (again!) Is pregnant. Gives birth to twins. Becomes a single mom. Reunites with hubby (finally!) and hands off kids. Is so distressed by all the drama...dies. Sita, who in Hinduism is the epitome of a a virtuous woman and believed to be an avatar of a goddess, most would agree, was one tough chick.

The film will be available on limited DVD release and on YouTube (part 1 of 10 is posted below) along with various downloads available online. The indie film is definitely getting some great buzz. In Roger Ebert's review, he said he was "enchanted" and "swept away" and called the film "astonishingly original". Variety says it "constitutes an irrefutable argument for classic 2-D animation"

 

 

I have heard Sita's story growing up, but what makes this feminist take on the ancient Ramayana unique, is the combination of Paley's modern autobiographical story of love lost. Paley's own husband ended their marriage abruptly after moving to India for a temporary job. Paley's cartoon version of herself is devastated and in her despair finds comfort in the reading about Sita. (The animation for the modern story  contrasts other parts of the film by using Squigglevision animation (line drawings).) The parallels in Paley's story and that of Sita are cleverly drawn and any modern woman can relate. Variety probably put it best in their review by saying Paley is "finding dubious solace in the thought that the same double-standards and stacked sexual politics that plague women today are ingrained in the very fabric of ancient folklore, Paley sustains a consistently funny, sometimes, even self-deprecatory comic tone."

 

PR rating: A manicured thumbs up. The film oozes with creativity.
Learn more:
Sepia Mutiny's interview with Nina Paley
Sita Sings The Blues on IMDB

 

image source: sitasingstheblues.com; video source: youtube.com

-SD

march super six

"It's not easy being green."-Kermit the frog

On St. Patrick's Day, everyone feels a wee bit Irish making green the color du jour of the month. So, sit back with your pint of Guinness (or cucumber martini) and enjoy the holiday with six of PR's green picks.

  

1) Green on your feet
Recession be damned--a gal can still lust. We have our eye on these two green lovelies that incorporate the best of spring shoe trends: Sergio Rossi's mile high fringe heels and the more foot-friendly Tory Burch gladiator sandals.

2) Green in your glass
Put the lychee martini down and say goodbye to yesterday. Cucumber martinis are the new "it" drink and are popping up in chic restaurants and lounges across the country. These martinis are a great option for those who shy away from super-sweet drinks and crave something refreshing. We can't get enough of Martha Stewart's recipe which infuses lime and mint with cucumber.

3) Green on and off the shoulder
Get those shoulders ready to be bared. Well, technically, you just need one shoulder "bare ready". A hot spring trend in blouses and dresses is the asymmetrical, one shoulder look. The shamrock colored Tibi Hyacinth one shoulder dress pictured above fits the bill nicely.

4) Green in your wallet
No pot of gold? In a tough economy, most everyone has money on the brain but not so much in the purse. So need to figure out how to budget such that you can afford that Tibi dress and Tory Burch shoes without all the stress? The solution: the much buzzed about and free, personal finance website mint.com. It syncs up all of your accounts to keep track of savings, credit cards, student loans, 401Ks and everything in between. It may simply just change your life.

5) Green (as in going)
Everyone wants to reduce their carbon footprint but unfortunately after getting your reuseable grocery bags and driving less, you may have just run out of ideas. Do not fear, the website EcoStiletto is a great source for creative and stylish ideas to be more green. From chemical free cosmetics to the best organic milk, the website offers great earth friendly alternatives for the chic girl on the go. The big list of things that suck is also a good reminder of how far there is to go in the battle of the green. 

 

6) Green in your tummy
We will pass on the kidney pie and celebrate St. Patty's Day in our own green way--with yummy Thai green curry. The best of all Thai curries, green curry is made with shrimp paste, chilies, garlic, galangal, Kaffir lime leaves, coconut milk, and Thai basil. This complex and rich dish is best left the experts to prepare--check out these Thai restaurant recommendations:
Houston: Thai Pepper
Dallas: Mango Thai
Miami: Thai House
NYC: Kittichai

Have a suggestion for the super six? Post it in the comments or email us at [email protected].

image source: shoes/dress: shopbop.com; cucumber martini: lightgroup.com; website logos:mint.com/ecostilleto.com; green curry: marthastewart.com

-SD/RW

4 minutes: a powerful noise

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever does." - Margaret Mead

The acclaimed documentary by Sheila C. Johnson, A Powerful Noise, features three inspirational women who defy the odds to fight poverty and oppression. Jacqueline, known as Madame Urbain, who works to empower and educate girls in the slums of Mali. Bui My Hanh, an HIV-positive widow in Vietnam who started a support group for those in her country living with the disease. And Nada Markovic, a survivor of the Bosnian war who is bringing women together to rebuild their community.

In celebration of International Women's Day (March 8), the documentary will be shown simultaneously around the nation in 450 theaters on March 5 at 6:30pm CST. Immediately, following the screening of the film, a live town hall discussion in New York City will be broadcast into each theater. Participants will include the film's executive producer Johnson, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, CARE Advocate Christy Turlington, CARE president and CEO Dr. Helene Gayle, actress/activist Natalie Portman and New York Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristof. Ticket prices for this unique event presented by CARE, NCM Fathom, ONE and the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women range from $15-18 and can be purchased for a theater near you on the Fathom website. More than 30 percent of the ticket purchases will go directly to the work CARE supports.

If you're looking to make a difference in the movement to empower women and girls in the fight against global poverty, this is a night that could potentially make all the difference. As CARE says, "The evening promises to leave you encouraged and empowered. Your ticket to this event is a passport into the lives of powerful women who are overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds to transform their communities. And you’ll find out concrete steps you can take to help make a big difference in the fight against global poverty." Inspired already? Learn more and sign the visual petition for women's rights.

image source: fathomevents.com

-SD