Punch in Brief

Erin Brockovich

Erin Brockovich (2000) will be screened on March 12 at 6pm at the American Center, No 44, Galle Road, Colombo 3. (Running Time: 132 minutes)

She brought a small town to its feet and a huge company to its knees.

Broke and desperate, the twice-divorced single mom Erin bosses her way into a clerical job with attorney Ed Masry (Albert Finney). Erin is soon focused on suspicious connections between a mighty power company, its abuse of toxic chromium, and the poisoned water supply of Hinkley, California, where locals have suffered a legacy of death and disease. Matching the dramatic potency of Norma Rae and Silkwood, Erin Brockovich filters cold facts through warm humanity, especially in Erin's rapport with dying victims and her relationship with George, a Harley-riding neighbor who offers more devotion than Erin's ever known.

The factual basis of Erin Brockovich adds a boost of satisfaction, proving that greed, neglect, and corporate arrogance are no match against a passionate crusader.

Seating is limited and is first-come, first-served.

Felicitating Dr.Vajira Chitrasena at Indian House

A felicitation ceremony for Dr.Vajira Chitrasena will be held on March 15 at 5.30 pm at the Indian House, No.86, Kumaratunga Munidasa Mawatha, Colombo 3. Entry by invitation.

For more inquiries please contact the Indian Cultural Centre (ICC), 16/2, Gregory's Road, Colombo 7. Tel: 011 2684698, e-mail: [email protected]

Magul Parasthawa and Ekata Mata Hina Hina at auditorium in Mathugama

Magul Parasthawa directed by Professor Ediriweera Sarachchandra and Ekata Mata Hina Hina which is included in the Grade 10 and 11 Sinhala syllabus will be staged on March 12 at 8.30 am and 10.30 am at the auditorium in Mathugama.

The cast includes Prasannajith Abeysuriya, Supun Tharanga Dheerasinghe, Rasika Jayalath, Nayana Hettiarachchi, Dhanushka Dias, Chamara Prasad, Tharanga Bandara along with many others. Choreography will be by Prasannajith Abeysuriya, drumming will be done by Asela Rangadeva and Tharanga Bandara. The new direction of the drama will be done by Lalitha Sarachchandra while stage lighting will be by Upali Weerasinghe. For inquiries please contact Priyantha Ranjan on 071 4822890 or 077 6240033.

Police

The movie, Police(1985) by Maurice Pialat will be screened on Tuesday, March 12 at 3pm and Wednesday, March 13 at 6.30pm at Alliance Française de Colombo,11, Barnes Place, Colombo 7.

Mangin, a tough Parisian cop who is trying to break a Tunisian drug smuggling ring. In the course of his investigations, he meets and falls in love with the drug carrier's girlfriend, Noria,a compulsive liar, who has stolen cash and drugs from the gang. In order to save her life, Mangin has to return the money to the very gang he has been trying to capture.

The movie is most suitable for mature audience and is subtitled in English.

Beauty and Agony at Broadcasting Place Gallery

Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict and current socio political downturn has created a personal and collective crisis for its population. Beauty and Agony - New Art from Sri Lanka is an exhibition of contemporary art by four Sri Lankan painters such as Manoranjana Herath, Vajira Gunawardena, Sanjaya Bandara Seanavirathna and Prageeth Rathnayake representing their highly personal experiences and responses to this particular crisis. Major shows in the West of Asian Art have been dominated by India and China and those featuring work from Sri Lanka tend towards a traditional, uncritical view of contemporary life on the island.

The exhibition will remain open till March 30 from 9 am to 5 pm at the Broadcasting Place Gallery, B202, Broadcasting Place, Leeds Metropolitan University, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9EN.

This exhibition is significant featuring works showing a side of Sri Lanka many wish to be kept out of the public eye. The work by four artists deals with the day-to-day life where crisis has penetrated the normal and disrupts the perceptions of an idyllic place as portrayed in tourist brochures and promotional material.

Beauty and Agony - New Art from Sri Lanka provides an exhibition platform for new contemporary Sri Lankan art presenting the artists' rich and complex experiences to the British public.

Puthra Samagama at Lionel Wendt

Alexander Vampilov's,The Elder Son - Puthra Samagama, translated by Prasanna Vithanage and directed by Jayalath Manorathna will be staged on March 17 at 3.30 pm and 6.45 pm at the Lionel Wendt theatre, Colombo 7.

The cast includes Jayalath Manorathna , Ajith Jinadasa ,Chandani Senevirathna , Sampath Thennakoon ,Rathna Lalani Jayakody and Sarath chandrasiri.

Music will be directed by Lakshman Wijesekara.

All seats have been box planned.Tickets available at the theatre. For inquiries contact Sadjana Sahurda Sansadaya on 0777 367708 or 0711 367708.