Timeless creations

Lester's and Sumitra's magnum opuses now on DVDs :

Ruwini JAYAWARDANA

One flickering movie screen. A cast of characters stumbling or strolling through episodes. They break into song and dance at intervals. Such are the conventions of the local film industry today. Yet movies from the golden past have proven among masses that their essence is timeless and etched in the hearts of moviegoers forever.

The work of legendary filmmaker Dr Lester James Peries falls into this category. He is the pioneer of Sri Lankan art movies and carved an everlasting niche not only in the local cinema scene but in international spheres as well. Five of his movies: Rekava (Line of Destiny), Gamperaliya (The Changing Village), Delovak Athara (Between Two Worlds), Desa Nisa (Pair of Eyes) and Baddegama (Village in the Jungle) which are considered as the crème de la crème of Sri Lankan cinema come as DVDs under Torana Video Movies.

"I am honoured to be given an opportunity to make DVDs on these great creations under our banner. Dr. Peries is not only the all time great film director in Lankan history but he is also a national treasure. His films not only carry depth but they are also valuable because of all the commitment instilled in every frame. They are a part of our culture and a heritage which needs to be preserved for the future. I launched this project as a part of my service towards the society and nation," Torana Video Movies chief Kumar Kothalawala said.

he said that the project triggered out of the many discussions that Dr. Peries had with Kothalawala on the dire need to preserve the films.

"Some time back he wanted to take some of his films to France and present them to his friends. He was able to locate them easily only because I had secured them. He believed that the Government would take steps to preserve his creations. As there was no action from that front he finally made the same request from me," he explained on the roots of the operation.

He said that fans of old movies have easy access to their favourites in foreign countries.

"For instance if you visit India there are video parlours which sell some of the oldest works like Dil Apna Or Pin Parayee,Babuji Buwara and Awaara. They are equipped with all time Hindi movies but our country does not have this facility.

We are unable to locate films like Kala Handa and Sandeshaya at the time of need. This is a great injustice to movie buffs as well as these evergreen creations. I have preserved many Sinhala films on DVD. Fans can purchase these for a reasonable rate and watch the movie in the comforts of their home," he said.

Two of Sumitra Peries' productions: Gehenu Lamai and Maya too have been made into DVDs. All these movies have scaled international heights and are much in demand not only among local movie fans but also at the international market.

"I hope to bring Dr. Peries' Golu Hadawatha (Silent Heart) and Nidhanaya (The Treasure) as DVDs," Kothalawala concluded informing his future plans for Torana Video Movies.

Sparks sells another book to Hollywood

There's a war going on right this moment in Hollywood, just not the kind you might think: Nicholas Sparks' opened the bidding on the movie rights to his latest novel, Safe Haven.

Sparks and his representatives released a list of terms for Haven, inviting the industry to begin competing for the privilege of developing his most recent property, described as "his first real foray into thriller territory." But the successful author of the novels-turned-movies A Walk to Remember, The Notebook, and Dear John hasn't given up on romance. Sparks has already given Haven a pithy tagline: "In the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven."

Sparks is peddling the novel all over town, and is likely already in talks with Disney, Fox, Sony, Warner Bros., and others. Risky Business

Vikram's first Malayalam film

After much speculations about being in a Mollywood movie, Tamil superstar Vikram has decided to do his first Malayalam film for director Roshan Andrews. Andrews is the one who directed super hit movies like Notebook and Evidam Swargamanu. He is also the director of Udayanu Tharam, which was later remade Vellithirai in Tamil. Vikram who never concealed his love for doing Malayalam films has finally decided on one. Roshan who had been an admirer of Vikram had met him last year in a function organised by a private channel. IndiaGlitz.com

Ira Handa Yata earns international stamp

Director Bennett Rathnayake's feature film Ira Handa Yata (Under the Sun and Moon) won the first prize at the first edition of the Identities Film Festival, held in Parma and Berceto, Italy fromJuly 27 to August 1.

Organised by the Learn To Be Free Onlus (LTBF) to promote cultural individualities of diverse groups the festival endorses love and compassion among the viewers. Around 60 feature movies from around the globe competed for the title. Six films: three German, two Italian and one Sri Lankan production were nominated for the final category.

The jury was headed by History Professor and Cinema critic of Parma University, Italy, Michele Guerra while former Italian Chamber of Deputies Speaker Irene Pivetti is the patron of the event.

Sri Lankan Ambassador in Italy Hemantha Warnakulasuriya received the award on behalf of Ratnayake and the National Film Corporation. This is the first time that a Sri Lankan movie had won first place at am Italian film festival.

[ Why Ira Handa Yata won the award ]

The movie bagged the award for "the sensibility and poetic manner with which he was able to deal with difficult themes such as violence, war, death, destruction of one's dearest and of his land, transforming it into a touching appeal for love and respect towards all human beings, no matter who they are, what they are doing or thinking. The tragic events which have afflicted the recent history of Sri Lanka are dealt with profound attention to the real historical, social and political framework, to its rural landscapes and urban sceneries which function as the background of the various stories, mixing in a fertile manner different cinematographic genres which go from the war based action movie to the most classic melodrama".

Suwanda Danuna Jeevithe crosses 50 days

Dhammika Siriwardena's maiden movie direction Suwanda Danuna Jeevitha crossed its 50 day mark on theatres recently. The movie starring Roshana Ranawana and Pooja Umashanker in lead roles grossed Rs. 5.5 million by August 2.

The movie revolves around a story of two individuals who are brought together by harsh circumstances in life. They are bonded by friendship which later turns into love. Donald Jayantha is the assistant director of the project while Siriwardena handled the production, script and story of the movie.

Young people's film camp returns

"In that time I got to know that the workshop will be a strong foundation for my life.....In the last day I cried because I will lose so many good friends who I have met...we all lived together, sang together, talked together. At the end of the workshop we took home a lot more than simply the knowledge of filmmaking. I will never forget this great opportunity. Today I refresh my memories in the workshop...."

So wrote one young participant from Bandarawela of her experiences at the 2009 children's film camp held at the Sarvodaya Training centre, Bandaragama, last August. Last year's program was created, funded, and organized by the U.S. Embassy with assistance from the Galle Film Festival (GLF).

The goal is to make this an annual event to develop creativity among Sri Lankan youth and to bring together young people from all over the island to work together and learn about one another. This year, with substantial financial support from the Embassy, the GLF outreach program takes over responsibility for running the program with a series of follow-up film camps in August. Embracing the idea of education and co-existence through the universal language of art and building on the success of last year's program, this year's workshop program will feature not one, but two, 10-day film camps.

Around 80 young people ranging from14 to17 years will participate. Up to 40 young participants, drawn from Kalutara, Trincomalee, Anuradhapura, Hambantota, Matara, Bandarawela, Galle, Badulla, Batticaloa, Moneragala, Amparai, Puttlam and Jaffna district will participate in each camp. From August 3 to 12 the tranquil and spacious Sarvodaya centre, will come alive to the spirit and energy of young people of diverse ethnic, linguistic, religious and social backgrounds, as they express their creativity through the medium of film. "Some of the films were quite beautiful, because they switched seamlessly from Sinhalese to Tamil and from Tamil to Sinhalese - the kids had decided to it would be unfair for it to be in one language," says GLF Director and co-founder Damita Nikapota.

At the 2009 film camp American acting coach Constance Tillotson from Hollywood collaborated with Sri Lankan film makers Anoma Rajakaruna, Kasinathar Gnanadas and a team of trilingual volunteers to make the experience a memorable one for its young participants.

Tillotson and Gnanadas will once again return this August collaborating with Toronto based director Maya Bastian and local filmmakers BuddhiniEkanyake, and Dhanushka Gunathilaka.

Looking back at last year's camp, Constance says, "Through the film-making process I witnessed the children's spirits grow in confidence, humour and freedom of expression.

What blew me away is that, I work with great actors in Hollywood and sometimes it's very difficult for them to take direction but with these children I would give acting direction or advice on set and they'd redo the scene, taking the direction like an expert. It would take a discussion with actors from Hollywood who speak my own language to understand what I wanted in the scene but these children were taking direction like 30- year-old pros. It was amazing to be witness to it, and it was so beyond language."

The finale to the workshop will be a screening of the films (produced by the young participants) at the Punchi Theatre on the evening of August 12. The second of the film camps will be held from August 14 to 24 at the Sudharshan Conference Center on the scenic Rumassala Hill, overlooking the expanse of Galle Bay. PR