Akasa Kusum (Flowers of the Sky) (Sri Lanka)
Directed by Prasanna VithanageScreening Courtesy: NETPAC
Supported by the Embassy of Sri Lanka, which will serve Sri Lankan food

 

 

8pm Thurs, July 29, 2010

Members: Free Non-members 150 baht Food: 100 baht

 

The film won the Netpac Award at the Granada Festival Cines del Sur, Spain, 2009 for "its strong portrayal of female characters whose lives, regrets and new beginnings are depicted in a delicate yet convincing way."

The film is directed by Prasanna Vithanage, one of Sri Lanka's most talented directors, who is considered the pioneer of New Wave cinema in the country.

It has an arresting cast, including the doyenne of Sri Lankan cinema, Malini Fonseka, in the pivotal lead. Malini, who has been in cinema for nearly four decades, was recently elected to Parliament.

The story centres around an ageing movie star Sandhya Rani, who keeps in touch with the movie industry by renting a room in her home to movie artistes, most of whom use it as a tryst for their 'private' activities. The grand lady cooks for them, chats, reminisces, and is content with her life, until a young, married actress Shalika is caught with her actor-lover in her own home in what becomes a media scandal. Shalika the moves into Sandhya's house and the two become close friends. But suddenly, someone totally unknown and unexpected from Sandhya’s past life, re-appears, shaking her out of her equanimity.

The film, which premiered at the Pusan International Film Festival, has won plaudits at festivals around the world, such as London, New York, Brisbane, Rome, Japan and Singapore.

It won the Special Jury Award at the Asian Film festival in Vesoul, France, and the Best Actress Award for its lead actress, at festivals in Levante and India.

To celebrate the screening of the first Sri Lankan movie in our film series, and also the holding of the NETPAC Asian Film Festival, Sri Lankan Ambassador HE Prof J B Dissanayaka will present Sri Lankan dishes such as fish cutlets, vadai chutney, pancake rolls and other dishes.


Don’t miss yet another cutting-edge movie in the NETPAC Asian Film Festival, which is a part of the FCCT Contemporary World Film Series.

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