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  • Sita Sings the Blues


    Added on Friday 23 October 2009 17:50:28
    by questioncopyright
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    Donate to the filmmaker here: http://questioncopyright.org/sita_distribution#donate

    Buy DVDs, etc, here: http://questioncopyright.com/sita.html

    "Sita Sings the Blues" is based on the Hindu epic "The Ramayana". Sita is a goddess separated from her beloved Lord and husband Rama. Nina Paley is an animator whose husband moves to India, then dumps her by email. Three hilarious shadow puppets narrate both ancient tragedy and modern comedy in this beautifully animated interpretation of the Ramayana. Set to the 1920's jazz vocals of torch singer Annette Hanshaw, Sita Sings the Blues earns its tagline as "the Greatest Break-Up Story Ever Told." It is written, directed, produced and animated by American artist Nina Paley.

    "Sita Sings the Blues" was released in 2008 only after long negotiations with the copyright holders of the 80-year-old songs recorded by Annette Hanshaw. Following the experience of almost having her film blocked from distribution, Nina Paley released it freely under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license, and now devotes a significant portion of her time to free culture activism. She is Artist in Residence at the non-profit QuestionCopyright.org.

    If you'd like to help pay off the $50,000.00 loan she took out to pay the music monopoly fee, you can donate to the Sita Distribution Project (tax-deductible in the US) at http://questioncopyright.org/sita_distribution#donate . Donations to that project go exclusively to that purpose and other expenses Nina incurred in releasing the film. You can also purchase DVDs, prints, shirts, and other Sita-related merchandise at http://questioncopyright.com/sita.html ; revenue is shared with Nina Paley.

    For more about the film and about Nina Paley's other work, see http://sitasingstheblues.com .

    For more about how retroactive copyright restrictions almost prevented the release of the film, see this interview with Nina Paley: http://questioncopyright.org/nina_paley_sita_interview .

    For more information about QuestionCopyright.org and its projects, please see our web site: http://questioncopyright.org .

    QuestionCopyright.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and donations are fully tax-deductable to the extent permitted by law. You can support our work at http://questioncopyright.org/donate .



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  • OswaldtheFourth

    Just finished this, instead of studying for Chemistry. My review? :D
    Wednesday 08 February 2012 04:35:53
  • XxXmomoliciousXxX

    GASP!!! Uploaded on my birthday!! I LOVE this story!! It's my all-time favorite! Thank you!!
    Thursday 26 January 2012 00:07:11
  • IPunchaUInTheFace

    @GoldenStat3 The point behind it is that it's copyright free. Maybe you'd find the artist behind it is more interesting than the movie itself.
    Wednesday 18 January 2012 11:12:14
  • IPunchaUInTheFace

    Well, if the internet dies because of SOPA/PIPA, at least I'll still be able to watch this.
    Wednesday 18 January 2012 08:12:48
  • cheekieweekie

    RIP manish - the shadow puppet in the spacesuit - died dec 2, 2010 falling from a horse.
    Tuesday 17 January 2012 19:55:06
  • devild3091

    Raavan has 9 heads in one scene :P lol @):):0:27:16
    Sunday 15 January 2012 11:17:17
  • lewa3910

    Awesome film. Nice to see some asian animation that's not anime-esque (even if i like that too)
    Tuesday 10 January 2012 18:48:34
  • GoldenStat3

    near the end the blues was unbearable. I didnt see any message or point to this movie. I dont understand the hype behind this movie. Overall it was pointless to watch
    Friday 06 January 2012 23:33:09
  • havefaith68

    The animation is a must see for both its ability to say a story the irony and craftmanship. The parallel drawn, similarities clear and music is fantabulous!
    Monday 02 January 2012 19:32:17
  • blandonlaguna

    Nices done!!
    Monday 02 January 2012 14:43:21
  • cheekieweekie

    This film is utterly beautiful and deeply moving.  I'm swept away and deeply in gratitude to Ms. Paley for sharing such a soulful and profound work.
    Sunday 01 January 2012 14:33:50
  • freakozone

    Love the Boney ma adaptatin to Boney _ M Hooray Hooray! at 1.06
    Sunday 01 January 2012 00:03:25
  • freakozone

    I ma little curious to know why an important character like Laxmana had been removed who's presence brings our the characters of Ram and Ravana more sharply!
    Saturday 31 December 2011 22:14:42
  • AvaPozen

    P.S. Ravan's expression at 0:26:27 is priceless.
    Thursday 29 December 2011 00:05:03
  • AvaPozen

    One of the saddest and loveliest indie films I ever watched. Growing up in India, we learned of Rama and Hanuman's bravery and courage, but not enough of Sita's integrity. I wish the issue of Sita's treatment by Rama would've been raised by Hindus themselves.
    Wednesday 28 December 2011 23:46:41
  • Shagron1349

    So @questioncopyright does this video still appear to be blocked in germany? Since i have a history getting only with those GEMA Notices. I am curious what acctually do they in ther free time... execpt bathing in fraud money and playing Nazi XD
    Monday 26 December 2011 16:48:05
  • Octopodaex

    @JSDC007 beautifully said!
    Monday 12 December 2011 15:12:53
  • shruti3rao

    I think she has put across her interpretation of the Ramayana and in particularly the role of Sita in it wonderfully!
    Monday 12 December 2011 09:13:31
  • articsocean

    44:22 Ancient aliens?
    Saturday 10 December 2011 20:40:45
  • TonyPro79

    @AssaraxDemyx14 Shiva's kind of weird; she's thought of as both a man and a woman. I'm not sure whether this depends on the age or sub-culture.
    Wednesday 07 December 2011 08:48:10
  • NvrTryNvrFail

    @thephilosopherkartik Pre-Marduk worship Bayblonia?
    Monday 05 December 2011 14:47:36
  • Bhikshu2

    @EbClectic "Grow the fuck up"... from someone using a phrase like " Crawl back under that filthy rock in Kabyahastajahzstan" Hypocrisy much?
    Wednesday 30 November 2011 14:35:29
  • thephilosopherkartik

    As an ex-Hindu atheist I've always been really fond of the Ramayana, having grown up watching and reading it in myriad forms. However, it has always been my bone of contention with the story how a man labelled as the 'paragon of goodness and virtue' can treat his own wife in such a degrading and callous manner. I'm glad Nina voiced this opinion in her interpretation. Of course, the sheer hilarity in her direction helps, too.
    Tuesday 29 November 2011 00:04:33
  • Sleexb

    @thephilosopherkartik I never suggested that Indian civiliazation is unique in it's misgynic traditions. I can see why you'd be defensive on this issue, though.
    Monday 28 November 2011 23:29:44
  • thephilosopherkartik

    @Sleexb Name one major ancient culture that didn't comprise sexist, misogynistic assholes.
    Monday 28 November 2011 23:09:58
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