Reading Notes. Sita Sings the Blues, Part B

So this second part just mainly focused on Sita's suffering. I was surprised by how harshly the videos portrayed Rama until I noticed a crucial detail about the San Francisco story line: the main character's name was Nina, same as the creator of this film. When I realized that the story was about her personal life, my reactions to this movie was drastically different. Now I understand that she is only emphasizing the parts of the Ramayana as well as certain interpretations to create a more sympathetic story for Sita. She does this because it is nearly impossible to include every detail in an hour and a half movie, but also because those are the stories that she identifies with most.

As the San Francisco story moves forward, it becomes more and more about Nina's heartbreak over David and you see how she relates to Sita. Nearly everyone goes through a breakup like this in which you question everything you know about love. When this happens we often seek out information from friends, family, and media about love and what it truly means. This film is an excellent way to explore those ideas in the Ramayana. The discussions that the shadow puppets share over Sita's love for Rama embody the arguments different people have about love. Is it always unconditional? What are the exceptions?

That being said, my interpretation of Rama is not nearly as harsh as Nina's. I do think his decision to banish her was more political than personal, and only when he sees his family growing without him in the forests does he realize that his power means nothing without love.

Image: Nina Palye by PAN Photo, Flickr
Bibliography: Sita Sings the Blues by Nina Paley, Web Source