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TV Times

'Behind Enemy Lines'
By Susitha R. Fernando
After the successful screening of film 'Lord of the Rings', "Behind Enemy Lines" is to be released at the Majestic cinema from June 7.

Lieutenant Chris Burnett (Owen Wilson) is a top Naval aviator who is frustrated that fragile geo-politics have kept him from what he knows best: flying F/A-18 super hornet jets into combat.

As he cools his heels along with his mates on USS Carl Vinson during a peace keeping mission off the Balkan coast. "We're watching not fighting" he tells Admiral Reigart (Gene Hackman) who thinks Burnet hasn't really learned what it means to be soldier. Actually the war is on hold, since the so called "Cincinnati Accord" has just been inked by warning the peace details are worked out on the ground.

When Burnett hands in his request to leave the service, Reigart reviews his list of run ins with MPs and consider his complaints so much immature whining. Reminded by supreme NATO commander Admiral Piquet (Joaquim de Almeida) that he is on a short leash. Reigart sends Burnett on short/routine simple photo reconnaissance mission. It falls to Burnett and his pilot buddy attack houses (Gabriel Macht) -during Christmas Eve but routine collapses when Burnett spots Serbs activity in what should be a demilitarized zone.

The camera on their F 18 records Serb troops, arms and worst of all, a killing Field , and right away the Serbs fire heat seeking missiles at the jet. What follows is a thrilling dog fight, with the F 18 pair doing their best to elude the missiles until one clips the wings and sends the crew in a terrifying drop to the ground.

Trapped 'Behind Enemy Lines', Burnett struggles to survive the relentless pursuit of a ruthless secret police enforcer, a deadly tracker and countless hostile troops. Downed by a broken leg is at the mercy of the ruthless Serbs, as Burnett trying to reach high ground to radio for rescue witnesses his buddy's execution. With the time running out, Reigart makes the wrenching decision to set aside the rules of the tightly controlled world in which he operates and risks his career to launch a renegade rescue mission to save the life of one soldier. The entire Balkan conflict now comes down to Burnett.
The movie is produced by John Davis and director is John Moore.

Bandu and Dilhani in a scene from the movie

Cheriyo Holman' now
"Cheriyo Holman" starring Bandu Samarasinghe, Dilhani Ekanayake, Susila Kottage, Ananda Wickremage, and Rohani Weerasinghe released on May 25 in 16 Film Corporation circuit theatres.

The film depicts two days incidents taking place in abandoned hotel,in the midst of some supernatural beings. The films was directed by Anuk Ranasinghe and was produced by Parakrama Jayasinghe.

Sri Lankan Film Festival at Alliance Francaise
Sri Lankan Film Festival - 2002, organized by the Alliance Francaise de Colombo together with La Maison des Arts (House of Arts) in Mt Lavinia will take place from June 5 to 9 at the Alliance Francaise auditorium and at La Maison des Arts, Mt. Lavinia.

Considering the society's need for an active and healthy cinema Alliance Francaise has organized this film festival to disseminate the knowledge on Sri Lankan films among Sri Lankan as well as the expatriate community.

All days from June 5 to 9, there will be two screenings at 3.00 pm and 6.30 pm.
'Sirimedura' and 'Aswesuma' will be screened at Alliance Francaise de Colombo. (AFC) on June 5 at 3.00 pm and 6.30 pm respectively.

'Suddilage Kathawa' and 'Gamperaliya' will come alive at 3.00 pm and 6.30 pm respectively at Maison des Arts (MA) in Mount Lavinia on June 6. 'Suddilage Kathawa' and 'Gamperaliya' will be screened again on June 7 at AFC.

'Me Mage Sandai' 'Aswesuma' and 'Siri Medura' will be screened on June 8 at MA and on June 9 at AFC. Those who are interested in attending the festival are requested to collect their invitations at the reception desk of the Alliance Francaise from 30 May 2002.

'Boungiorno Italia' comes to Lanka
By Sanath Weerasuriya

Sangeetha and Mahendra in a scene from 'Mille Soya'

Much talked about Boodee's film 'Mille Soya' (Boungiorno Italia) is now being made ready for realese after many many years on production table. 'Mille Soya' will hit the Sri Lankan silver screen by the end of July after two more releases of 'Kalu Sudu Mal.'

'Mille Soya' is based on illegal emigrants to Italy, their struggle, successes and failures.

This is Sri Lanka's very first digital film, where the director has spent so much of time and money on technical aspects of the movie. The story revolves around a group of young musicians, who venerate Bob Marley, and wish to become a famous band.
The story is based in and around Marawila, Thalavila Wella, Iranawila and Chilaw. But their lives on the lowest rungs of Sri Lankan society, with its poverty and violence, offer them little if no opportunities.

Friends returning from Italy talk about the money to be made. But the journey there is not straightforward because it's not legal. The film follows them on their dangerous journey with all its hazards, its comradeship, its tears and laughter, and also death.
When in Naples, Italy, the appalling conditions of their day-to-day living, the hard labour, but also the basic human frailties, strengths, loves and hates, are also shown. On returning to Sri Lanka, somehow they seem to be better equipped to survive either in Sri Lanka, or to return to Italy, this time as lawful immigrants.

'The Sri Lankan segment of the shooting was a cake walk when compared to the hazards the team faced in having to complete the Italian phase of the film, which had to be shot in the winter when there was snow on the mountains', said Boodee. It was not financially possible to take a large contingent of people and equipment to Italy.
Hence all the equipment and ancillary crew had to be arranged in Italy.

For this the Lankan 'emigres' in Naples, about whom this film was about, gave Boodee amazing support both in financial and practical terms. Some of them even acted in the film. They opened up their homes to the film crew - some of these homes were illegal squats.

'Boungiorno Italia- Mille Soya' is produced by Buddhi Keerthisena. The cast includes Mahendra Perera, Sangeetha Weeraratne, Dilhani Ekanayake, Roger Seneviratne, Sanath Gunathilaka, Linton Semage, Kamal Addararachchi, Veena Jayakody, W. Jayasiri, Sweenitha Weerasinghe, Ravindra Randeniya, Anthony Surendra of 'Shakthi' fame, Channa Perera, Victor Ramanayake, Nadi Kammellaweera, Navanandana Wijesinghe, Pradeep Hettiarachchi and Edward Gunawardena.

The music direction is by Lakshman Joseph de Saram and most of the song are sung by 'Jayasiri' popular Sri Lankan band based in Vienna.

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