From innovative director Nina Paley comes this fascinating, hilarious, beautifully brilliant animated film.  Sita Sings the Blues is an animated version of the epic Indian tale, the Ramayana.  But rather than being told through the eyes of the epic's hero, Rama, Paley's film is told from his wife Sita's perspective, creating a modernist retelling and parallels to Paley's own tumultuous relationship with her husband.  Three Indian shadow puppets provide a running commentary to the film, providing comic relief as they argue over the labyrinthine plot of the original epic.  Featuring no less than five distinct styles of animation, Sita Sings the Blues is a feast for the eyes, and set to the music of 1920's jazz singer Annette Hanshaw, for the ears as well.  And not only is the film fascinating in and of itself, but so is the method of distribution.  Due to the cost of licensing some of the songs in the film, Paley uses the Creative Commons Share-Alike License, which allows anyone to view, copy, show, and distribute this film without paying the director as long as the creators of the film are still given credit.  For more information on Sita Sings the Blues, be sure to check out the website.

     Meet Yonah Krohn, a.k.a. Johnny Childs.  He's handsome, funny, shrewd, crude and maybe even slightly demented.  But no doubt he is a sensational blues artist, likened to a Picasso of the genre.  And in six months (before he turns 30), he's going to get signed to a major Blues record label...or so he hopes.
     Along the journey into Johnny Childs’ world, we begin to understand the incredible personal history that fuels his tremendous musical passion.  Eight years in the making, taken from over 200 hours of footage and other media, this self-made film follows Johnny as a 12-year-old runaway, through his restrictive Orthodox Jewish upbringing in Toronto, dealing cocaine in Miami, and a strange but spirited journey through Boston, Jerusalem, New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco.  Ultimately, Blues Before Sunrise is a candid, off-the-wall story about human determination, a portrayal of passion, excess, risk-taking, fame, and the pursuit of one's own personal happiness.  For more information, check out the website.