Sita Sings the Blues

Cartoonist Nina Paley directs this stylish adaptation of the epic Indian tale of Ramayana as set to the '20s jazz vocals of Annette Hanshaw. The story of Sita, an ancient Indian princess suffering under the indignities of an impetuous husband, is paralleled with the modern story of a heartbroken San Francisco woman reading the Ramayana. Produced on a laptop computer over the course of five years, the film is enchanting and original, like some exotic Betty Boop cartoon in raging Technicolor. 82 minutes (Opens Saturday 12/29)