Screening the best of both worlds

By Esther Williams
The best of films that the French and Sri Lankan cinema have to offer will be screened at the 2nd Annual French-Sri Lankan Film Festival to be held at the Elphinstone theatre from April 2-8.

Organized jointly by the French Embassy, Alliance Francaise and the National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka, the festival would feature films that reveal the many aspects of culture, history and society of the two countries.

A combination of romance, drama and comedy indicates the scope of French cinema in the recent years.

Sri Lankan films selected for the festival are Seilama and Visidela by H.D. Premaratne, Beddegama by Dr. Leister Pieris based on Leonard Woolf's novel and Sisila Giniganee by Prasanne Vithanage that is based on a true murder story.

Encouraged by the success of last year's festival, the festival this year has been organized on a much larger scale by combining some of the best French and Sri Lankan creations that have been highly appreciated in their respective cultural contexts.

The organizers of the festival feel that bringing together the French and Sri Lankan cinema through an event of this nature is an effective way of promoting understanding and respect for the unique identity of each other's culture.

"It will help tighten links between the two countries," explains Jacques Charrier, Director of Alliance Francaise.

The Embassy of France has always been active in the area of cultural exchange.

Through Alliance Francaise, its linguistics and cultural arm that conducts language-training programmes, it has promoted cultural understanding, as also does their TV programme BONSOIR that showcases French and Sri Lankan culture.

"Colombo audiences will have a glimpse of some excellent films produced in France, which is one of the few countries that have maintained autonomy in cinema," explains Mr. Ivan Weerakody, the Acting General Manager of the National Film Corporation. Hollywood, he says, has killed cinema in most other countries.

Among the very few countries that have maintained identity in cinema are France, India and Japan, Mr. Weerakody continues. Sri Lanka did so until quite recently when it too seems to have bowed down.

Pamudi Withanaarachchi of the French Embassy spoke of their forthcoming project in 2004 - a film festival with Sri Lankan cinematographers whose projects have a link to France.

Entrance to the film festival is free.

Those who love me can take the train (1998)
Before dying in Paris, the painter Jean-Baptiste Emmerich invited his family and close friends to his funeral at the family tomb in Limoges. The Emmerich family has made a fortune in the shoe business. On the train between Paris and Limoges, at the cemetery, and finally in the huge family mansion, the family members tear themselves to pieces. The request to take the train is the old painter's ultimate machination to force his tribe to truly take stock of one another in a not very glorious manner.

A world without pity (1989)
Paris, 1989. A boy hangs out in the desert of dead theories. " Let it happen, let it go " is his program. Until one day 'somebody else', meaning reality, interferes. It is a girl, different of course, who has other things to do but mourns over theories.

The horseman on the roof
This drama is set in Provence during a terrible 19th-century cholera epidemic. The tale begins in 1832 and chronicles the flight of Italian officer-turned-revolutionary Angelo. He learns that he and his compatriots are scheduled to be wiped out by the disease. Now he must hurry to warn the others before it is too late. During his ride to the north, Angelo sees the terrifying effects of cholera all around. Whole villages have been so decimated. He arrives to the yet unaffected town of Manosque and finds they have closed the gates to outsiders, forcing him to sneak in. Unfortunately, when an outbreak of cholera occurs, the frightened villagers blame Angelo.

Beaumarchais the scoundrel (1996)
This sumptuous French drama offers episodes from the notorious life of 18th century playwright Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais. The story begins in the 1770s with a preview of "The Barber of Seville." A young friend of Voltaire, Philippe Gudin introduces himself to the great playwright and offers to become his personal secretary. He then becomes the adventurous Beaumarchais' protector as the author gets involved in a variety of situations including a duel with an angry husband, his battle with the corrupted French government and a serious long-term affair with Marie-Theres de Willer.

Marius et Jeannette (1997)
Marseilles, the Estaque quarter. Marius is the sole guardian for a vast industrial waste land. Having lost her job, Jeannette is raising her two children in a tiny house that overlooks a courtyard where two couples of friends live. Jeannette meets Marius and together they try to forget the wounds life has given them. The film describes the rebirth of their ability to reach happiness.

Vénus beauté (Institut) (1999)
"Venus Beauty " is a beauty institute in a busy part of Paris. Nadine is the boss, Angèle an employee. They receive ladies, listen to them, look after them and console them. A few men come too. Angèle lives alone and picks up men after work without much conviction until the day she meets Antoine who says he loves her and strives to prove it.

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