| Seder-Masochism | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Nina Paley |
| Written by | Nina Paley |
| Produced by | Nina Paley |
Release date |
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Running time | 78 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $20,000[2] |
Seder-Masochism is a 2018 American animated musical biblical comedy-drama film written, directed, produced and animated by American artist Nina Paley. The film reinterprets the Book of Exodus, especially stories associated with the Passover Seder, such as the death of the Egyptian first-born, and Moses leading the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. The film depicts these events against a backdrop of widespread worship of the Great Mother Goddess, showing the rise of patriarchy.
Seder-Masochism is Paley's second feature film, following Sita Sings the Blues in 2008, an animated film loosely based on the Ramayana. In a similar fashion to her previous work, Paley mainly uses previously published music in Seder-Masochism, with popular and liturgical songs ranging from 1928 to 2018. She also draws from spoken voice recordings she made in 2011 with her father, Hiram Paley, who is placed in the role of the traditional Hebrew deity. Greg Sextro served as sound designer on the film.[3]
With Theodore Gray, Paley formed PaleGray Labs to create a method for animating embroidery, which they call "embroidermation". In Seder-Masochism, embroidered animation is the basis for one scene: "Chad Gadya".
Debuting in the 2018 film festival season, Seder-Masochism was reviewed positively, with Paley's bright and satirical style compared to Monty Python and others. The film earned the Audience Award at the ANIMATOR film festival in Poland.
- ^ "Seder-Masochism". Annecy International Animated Film Festival. June 2018. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
- ^ Ramin Zahed (June 13, 2018). "10 Questions for Nina Paley Writer/Director/Producer/Animator of Seder-Masochism". Animation Magazine.
- ^ Nina Paley. "Credits". Seder-Masochism. Retrieved August 14, 2018.