Bonjour Cinema! at Elphinstone

"Bonjour cinema!", a film Festival of the French Speaking Countries will be held from the March 16 to 20 at the Elphinstone Theatre. Entrance is free.

This festival is a joint event organized by the Consulate of Belgium, the High Commission of Canada, the Embassy of France, the Embassy of Romania and the Embassy of Switzerland, in collaboration with the National Film Corporation.

Over the past few years, the Embassy of France successfully organized an annual film festival. This time, the French diplomatic mission has decided to invite other partner countries to participate in the event and screen a collection of films that represent the richness and the diversity of the cinema industries of French speaking nations.

In addition to foreign films, two Sri Lankan films that have been honoured in France will be screened. They are "Wekanda Walauva" (Mansion by the Lake) by Dr. Lester James Peries and "Thani Thatuwen Piyambanna" (Flying with One Wing) by Asoka Handagama.

A total of 10 films will be screened during this Festival. The schedule is as follows;

March 16 - 4.00 p.m.- Un air de Famille (Family Resemblances - France). This film directed by Cedric Klapisch revolves round a very typical family: an abusive mother, the favourite and the not-so-favourite sons, an unmarried daughter with a penchant for trouble and, two daughters-in-law (one's celebrating her birthday, the other's not telling her age).

March 16 - 7.00 p.m. Ciuleandra (Romania), directed by Sergiu Nicolaescu films portrays 1925, Puiu Franga, son of minister of Justice, strangles his wife, Madalina, in an irrational fit of jealousy and consequences that follow.

March 17 - 3.30 p.m. Les destinees Sentimentales (Sentimental Destinies - France), directed by Olivier Assayas. This film revolves round a couple - Jean and Pauline first meet at a ball when she is twenty, but surely, have no idea what they must endure in order to stay together for the rest of their lives.

March 17 - 7.00 pm Thani Thatuwen Piyabanna (Flying with One Wing) directed by Asoka Handagama.

March 18 - 4.00 p.m Wekanda Walauwa (Mansion by the Lake) directed by Dr. Lester James Peries.

March 18 - 7.00 p.m La Moitie gauche du Grigo (The Left Side of the Fridge - Canada) is directed by Philippe Falardeau.

The films features Christopher, a young Engineer, desperately searching for a job and his best friend and roommate Stephane, a social activist who films a documentary about Christopher's daily life - job interviews, going out with friends and even his flirtation with a cashier.

March 19 - 4.00 p.m. L' Homme du Train (Man on the train - France) Directed by Patrice LECONTE, the films unravels Milan, an enigmatic, ageing gangster whose next job is to hit the bank in a small, provincial French town and Manesquier, an elegant, retired schoolteacher of French poetry.

March 19 - 7.00 p.m Au sud des nuages (In the South of the Clouds - Switzerland) directed by Jean-Francois AMIGUET, it is about an ageing farmer, Adrien who is a quiet man from a mountain village in the Swiss Alps who convinces his friends to accompany him on a train ride to Beijing in the Trans-Siberian Express.

March 20 - 3.00 p.m Le Fils (The Son - Belgian) film which revolves round a man called Olivier who trains youths for a profession: carpentry. When Olivier is offered to take Francis to his team, he first refuses, but later understands that he is the same kid who killed his son.

March 20 - 6.00 pm Les diaboliques (The Fiends - Frence) set at a boys' boarding school in France. The plot revolves around the cruel headmaster, his mistress, and his ailing wife.

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Somalatha Subasinghe's plays for children at Lumbini Theatre

"Punchi Apata Then Therei" ("We Know it Now") and "Thoppi Velenda" ("The Hat Seller"), two plays written and directed by Somalatha Subasinghe will be staged on March 19 at the Lumbini Theatre, Havelock Town at 3.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m.

The event is organised courtesy of Mystical Rose Montessori and Activity School, Park Lane, Rajagiriya.

The two plays are musicals with songs and dances developed on Sri Lankan folk culture, acrobatics and humour. Through these aspects the artistes communicate with children to inculcate in them a strong sense of pride in our traditional art forms and culture.

Original stories are adapted to the theatrical medium to emphasise the significance of universal themes like humaneness, love, caring for people and nature. Subasinghe and her Play House Group believe that their ultimate achievement is to bring up a self confident, dignified and compassionate younger generation.

Lanka Children's and Youth Theatre Organisation (Play House, Kotte) brings out these plays tailor-made for youngsters.

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People's Drama festival in Colombo

The Janakaraliya drama festival will commence with the staging of Parakrama Niriella's 'Charandas' on March 10 at 6.00 pm at the Janakaraliya mobile stage now parked at Nomads Ground, Colombo 7 for the invitees. This marks the official inauguration of the National Drama Festival 2005.

Mangala Senanayake's 'Andaramal' will be staged on March 12 at 6.00 pm. Erukalampu (the Tamil translation of Andaramal) will be staged on March 13 and 14 at 6.00 pm. Cyril C. Perera'a 'Makarakshya' will also be staged.

The final round of the National Drama Festival 2005 will commence on March 15 staging R.R.Samarakoon's 'Kaputu Bo' at the Janakaraliya at 6.00 pm.

March 16 - Sunil Chandrasiri's 'Don Juwan'; March 17 - Buddhika Damayantha's 'Parana Ayage Kathawak' ; March 18 - M.Shafir's 'Mama Ipadune Iye Nemei' (I was not born yesterday), March 19 - Hemantha Prasad's 'Malsara Bisaw'; March 20 - Noel Wijeratne's 'Mitiyawathe Geethaya' (The song of the valley); March 21 - Priyantha Kaluarachchi's 'Me Hineta Namak Denna' (Give a name for this dream), March 22 - Kaushalya Fernando's 'Sanda Langa Maranaya' and March 23 - Rajitha Dissanayake's 'Sihina Horu Aran' (Dreams taken away by thieves).

- Nadira