Cinema
The Wasps Are Here
බඹරු ඇවිත්
Dharmasena Pathiraja · 1978
Synopsis
In Kalpitiya, a fishing village, Victor returns to take over his sick father's fish trade, surrounded by young townspeople dressed and lulled in the Western way. Anton, the village patriarch, who under his fisherman's air exploits the others, sees him as a rival. Victor starts an affair with Helen, engaged to Cyril, whom Anton supports, while Weerasena, a left-wing activist, tries to speak to the villagers.
Context
Shot in black and white, the film is written with Malini Pathiraja and produced by the director with Thilak Godamanne; Donald Karunaratne operates the camera, Sextus Aponsu edits, Premasiri Khemadasa writes the music. It was released on 11 August 1978 and shown at Venice. Restored in 4K by the Asian Film Archive with the laboratory L'Immagine Ritrovata, it was presented at Cannes Classics in 2020, then streamed online; Carlotta Films released it in France on DVD and Blu-ray on 5 April 2022.
Who it is for
A film in Sinhala, about two hours long in its restored version, available online with subtitles.
Prizes and reception
Presidential Awards for best film and best direction in 1979; ranked fourth best Sri Lankan film of the half-century.
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