this film tackles problematic issues in Sri Lanka, such as the war and racial intolerance. Sri Lanka is not geared to producing musicals in the same way that Mumbai is. This is a serious, well-made drama,(although one or two unintentional laughs enhance the enjoyment for me) focusing on a wounded Tamil Tiger soldier who sends his daughter to a Sinhalese border village to avoid starving to death in the jungle, after the Sri Lankan army destroys a Tiger base. The young child, Saroja, is taken in by a school teacher and his family, after befriending their daughter. Saroja persuades the teacher to go back and rescue her father. Problems arise when they try to conceal the identities of their new guests from the rest of the village. Similar villages have fallen victim to savage machete killings by Tigers seeking to prolong the war and provoke the army into similar massacres. The paranoia and fear that spreads through the village is powerfully evoked, with Janake Kumbukage being convincing as the teacher (playing a character at least 10 years older than himself). The two little girls in the film were without fault and their scenes avoided over the top sentimentality. Overall, an extremely touching and well-made film.
2 Reviews
Interesting, often charming film about the evils of the civil war in Sri Lanka
mrkramer15 March 2001
Warning: Spoilers
This is the first Sri Lankan movie I have seen. I thought it was charming and sad. I also found some of the acting rather stylized, which gave the film a formal air in places.
SPOILERS AHEAD. The plot is an indirect introduction to the issues of the civil war that has beleaguered Sri Lanka over the past years, as portrayed by the actions of two families and surrounding villagers. A Tamil, who has been forced to join the Tamil Tiger group for survival, is severely wounded and hides in the jungle with his little daughter after his wife is killed and their house is burned down. While looking for food, the daughter meets a Sinhalese girl and they become fast friends. The parents of the Sinhalese girl take in both the wounded Tamil Tiger and his daughter at great risk to themselves. After their neighbors discover that they are harboring members of the "enemy," the Sinhalese couple defend themselves by saying that Tamils are equal members of the human family, despite their different ethnic identity. The film ends on a sad but hopeful note.
I have seen a number of human rights movies, and they can be self-righteous and black-and-white, no matter how good their goals are. Artistry often suffers at the expense of the political message. This film's plot also has little nuance. It spells out and promotes tolerance and human rights in general and in the specific case of the civil war. One would hope for the movie to get wide distribution in Sri Lanka and elsewhere for that reason. In any case, however, I felt that if it "instructs," it does so in a gentle and very palatable way. The little girl who plays Saroja, the tiny Tamil, is absolutely adorable, as is the slightly older Sinhalese girl she befriends and eventually calls "sister." They are the innocent, symbolic focus of the film and are delightful to watch. The older actors also did a decent job. In addition, I greatly enjoyed seeing the scenery and snapshots of daily village and family life in Sri Lanka.
Unfortunately, I doubt that this movie will get much distribution in most English-speaking countries. I would recommend it, however, for anyone who finds its subject matter and goals of interest and has the opportunity to see it at a film festival or other venue.
SPOILERS AHEAD. The plot is an indirect introduction to the issues of the civil war that has beleaguered Sri Lanka over the past years, as portrayed by the actions of two families and surrounding villagers. A Tamil, who has been forced to join the Tamil Tiger group for survival, is severely wounded and hides in the jungle with his little daughter after his wife is killed and their house is burned down. While looking for food, the daughter meets a Sinhalese girl and they become fast friends. The parents of the Sinhalese girl take in both the wounded Tamil Tiger and his daughter at great risk to themselves. After their neighbors discover that they are harboring members of the "enemy," the Sinhalese couple defend themselves by saying that Tamils are equal members of the human family, despite their different ethnic identity. The film ends on a sad but hopeful note.
I have seen a number of human rights movies, and they can be self-righteous and black-and-white, no matter how good their goals are. Artistry often suffers at the expense of the political message. This film's plot also has little nuance. It spells out and promotes tolerance and human rights in general and in the specific case of the civil war. One would hope for the movie to get wide distribution in Sri Lanka and elsewhere for that reason. In any case, however, I felt that if it "instructs," it does so in a gentle and very palatable way. The little girl who plays Saroja, the tiny Tamil, is absolutely adorable, as is the slightly older Sinhalese girl she befriends and eventually calls "sister." They are the innocent, symbolic focus of the film and are delightful to watch. The older actors also did a decent job. In addition, I greatly enjoyed seeing the scenery and snapshots of daily village and family life in Sri Lanka.
Unfortunately, I doubt that this movie will get much distribution in most English-speaking countries. I would recommend it, however, for anyone who finds its subject matter and goals of interest and has the opportunity to see it at a film festival or other venue.
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