Searching sources to enjoy aesthetic cinema

K. S. Sivakumaran

In Lanka we see only Sinhala, Thamil and English films in the theatres but even if films from other countries are shown in public theatres or private showings many do not go to see them if they are not subtitled in English. Yet then, who knows English these days!

Some of my friends ask me why I should write about films that they cannot see in Lanka and that too in a sort of 'telegraphic language'.

I do not know what they meant by describing my style of writing as the one they judged. May be because I write in simple sentences for the benefit of those who could follow what I am saying.

The reason I write about such films is to bring them information which they may not be aware of.

Another reason is because of the fact that there is a vast world of international cinema outside our own little orbit in which real cineastes are interested. When there are so many to write about Sinhala films my little observations wouldn't be a factor in understanding the cinema.

As far as local Thamil films are concerned the industry is almost dead except one or two films made by amateurs. They are yet to be seen in public theatres.

Further there are a number of people who write about Lankan and Chennai Thamil films in the Thamil language. There is only one writer who used to review Thamilnadu Thamil films in English for the 'Artscope'. I resist writing about Thamil films in English for certain constraints as I happen to be a member of the Public Performances Board for Censor purposes and so it goes.

As said above there is a whole world of quality and aesthetic films being produced in various parts of the globe, particularly in the Indian subcontinent and South East Asia.

Some friends ask me how I could write about such films when they are not shown here.

Accepting their naivety as a natural reaction, I explain to them that I see these films at the International Film Festivals.

Some of the DVDs of great film makers in the West and the East may be available here too if you search for them in the stores. For instance you can even buy then online from Columbia House.

There are other sources that sell quality films. You may even borrow some videos from the western embassies in Colombo. Another opportunity would be to see when foreign missions screen films of their countries.

To know about those events one should read the newspapers inside feature pages regularly and not merely scan the headlines of newspapers. I mention this because even English Literature students in our schools do not seem to read the 'feature pages' of newspapers where they can gather lot of information and relish enjoying the arts.

I think the teachers should direct the students to read and also guide them where they can find material for their additional reading.

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