Mean to Me

When Nina Paley's marriage fell apart in an especially crushing way — with a curt breakup e-mail from her husband while he's on a work assignment in India — the animator poured her all into the medium she knows best. Sita Sings the Blues tells the story billed "as the greatest break-up story ever told" with elements of the Hindu epic poem Ramayana, vintage jazz vocal recordings, Indian rajput painting, Indonesian shadow puppets and contemporary animation of the Dr. Katz school. Wonder how things would have turned out if her ex had bothered to call. Sita Sings the Blues screens at 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday (February 13 through 15) at Webster University's Moore Auditorium (470 East Lockwood Avenue; 314-968-7487 or www.webster.edu/filmseries). Tickets are $5 to $6. IMAGE COPYRIGHT NINA PALEY
Feb. 13-15, 2009