Super Sita

Well, hello there. I'm already feeling behind on this blog I just started, but that's what I get for trying to kick off a new project right before one of two of the busiest times at work.

But I'm back, and I'm hear to share a bit about an amazing film I saw recently, Sita Sings the Blues.

I have to give credit to Geoff for labeling it a mix of Disney's Fantasia and MST3K. That hits it on many buttons. Sita was developed by Nina Paley, a self-taught animator, and she describes it as a "musical, animated personal interpretation of the Indian epic the Ramayana." It also intertwines Paley's personal story about the failure of her marriage.

Sita is entertaining, funny, colorful and heartwarming. (Love the cat named Lexi!) It also features the music of Annette Hanshaw, one of the first great female jazz performers of the late 1920s.

And if all that isn't cool enough, Paley is distributing Sita via a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License, which means a lot of things detailed here. But perhaps the coolest element is that you can download Sita and watch it for free. Yes, free. (Note: Donations always accepted but not at all necessary.)

So, what are you waiting for? Check out Sita Sings the Blues, and may you enjoy it as much as I did.

Fall fun

I have a love-hate relationship with fall in Colorado. Fall, back in Illinois, is a beautiful time of year. The air is crisp. The leaves take their time changing colors. Snow, in September, is basically unheard of.

Fall in Colorado seems to happen overnight. One day it's summer; the next, as in today (officially fall), we have predictions of 5 to 7 inches of snow overnight. And by the end of the week, it'll be hot and summery again. As you can imagine, this really messes up the growing season. I don't know how the plants and trees survive. And forget trying to dress appropriately.

But fall is also a wonderful time here because the amount of available cultural activities increases significantly. Colorado College is back in session, and the theater and music groups begin their annual seasons. It's rare to not find something to open your mind and heart to any evening of the week, if you so choose.

Two such events have happened for me just over the past week. The first, a showing of an indie film, Ink.

Ink was filmed in Denver, by Coloradans. Last Wednesday, the Independent Film Society of Colorado offered a showing at the Lon Chaney Theater in downtown Colorado Springs. I'd never been to the Lon Chaney, and I loved its ambiance. Built in 1923, it's attached to the City Auditorium and was named for the silent screen star. It's a small venue, holds about 200 at most. The seats (pictured above) look comfortable, but they're basically fabric-covered wood. There's definitely an historic air about the place, and this showing of Ink, a modern-day fairy tale, was perfect at this venue.

Immediately following the film, there was a Q&A session with the director, the writer and two actors. Films aren't often made in Colorado (apparently the tax incentives here are miserable), so it was a pleasure to be able to interact with a local cast and crew.

Ink is going on the road. It's worth a viewing if you get a chance. Learn more at Double Edge Films.

Then last night, I attended a concert at Colorado College. Every year the school hosts a few performers in conjunction with our local library district's World Music Series. Yesterday's show was with Vieux Farka Touré, son of Malian guitarist Ali Farka Touré. Vieux plays the music of a contemporary Africa, combining blues, funk and Afro-pop.

Bottom line, he and his band were amazing. I don't really know what else to say; rather, I encourage you to check him out here. And keep an eye out for the World Music Series. Every show we've seen through it (all free) has been memorable.

Oh, and if you're looking for something to do tomorrow night, join me at the Lon Cheney for Sita Sings the Blues.