I don't know where to begin.... should I talk about the creator first or should I introduce her body of work first? Yes, the proverbial chicken vs the egg mystery. However, in the end I decided to talk about Nina Paley first since there would be nothing of her masterpiece without the artist's imagination and rendition of her creation.
Nina Paley describes herself as America's Best-Loved Unknown Cartoonist". She has made some recognizable cartoons, one of which is called "Fetch". However, her recent masterpiece which I believe will put her name in the map of notable and respected cartoonist as well as a high-caliber artist is a movie done in complete animation and is entitled "Sita Sings the Blues".
"Sita Sings the Blues: The Greatest Break-up Story Ever Told" intersperses between the mythical story of the Ramayana (India's well-known epic together with the Mahabharata) and the author/illustrator/cartoonist's own life story. Having earned laudable praises when it was shown in film festivals in 2008, it is slowly getting into the movie cinema mainstream with the help of WNET (a PBS channel in New York) who have screened it on their channel, Boston's Museum of Fine Arts movie offerings and other creative means that the author could do to make her work known. A DVD is also in the works for future distribution.
A lot has already been said about this movie but one review that I love was from Roger Ebert who eloquently described this movie by capturing all of its essence as a cinematic genius.
Right now the movie is being shown on WNET's Reel 13 site for free. Some people who have watched this before has mentioned that it was better viewing it on the big screen. If you want to watch it, click here. This will be one movie worth-watching.
I am just so loving this video from singer-songwriter Oren Lavie. The video is so captivating and the music is beautifully haunting.
Oren Lavie - Her Morning Elegance
Sun been down for days A pretty flower in a vase A slipper by the fireplace A cello lying in it's case
Soon she's down the stairs Her morning elegance she wears The sound of water makes her dream Awoken by a cloud of steam She pours a daydream in a cup A spoon of sugar sweetens up
And She fights for her life As she puts on her coat And she fights for her life on the train She looks at the rain As it pours And she fights for her life As she goes in a store With a thought she has caught By a thread She pays for the bread And She goes... Nobody knows
Sun been down for days A winter melody she plays The thunder makes her contemplate She hears a noise behind the gate Perhaps a letter with a dove Perhaps a stranger she could love
And She fights for her life As she puts on her coat And she fights for her life on the train She looks at the rain As it pours And she fights for her life As she goes in a store With a thought she has caught By a thread She pays for the bread And She goes... Nobody knows
And She fights for her life As she puts on her coat And she fights for her life on the train She looks at the rain As it pours And she fights for her life Where people are pleasently strange And counting the change And She goes... Nobody knows
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet will visit Massachusetts on May 2nd 2009. He will give a public talk at Gillette Stadium, located at Foxborough, MA. Please visit the Tibetan Association of Boston to get more information on tickets and other important details...
Big hugs and lots of kisses to my daughter, Karrol, for re-designing my blogsite. She is responsible for making my blog look cool... If you want to check out her own blog, visit K-Dream Palace and her contributing articles at AATheory.
