Dambana

Documentary Film Show

By ci ⋅ February 11, 2009 ⋅ ⋅ Post a comment

The Colombo Institute, in association with the German Cultural Institute, presented an initial screening of two documentary films produced by the institute on January 09th 2009. These films were produced by the Colombo Institute as part of a project of making three documentary films to explore themes of youth and multiculturalism in three selected locations in Sri Lanka.  

The two films are Thunwenno (The Third Generation) based on the experiences of youth in Dehiattakandiya, a Mahaweli settlement in the Eastern Province and Wanaspathi Uruma Laddo (The Inheritors of the Jungle) based on the experiences of youth in Dambana, a village of indigenous people in the Uva Province. The Colombo Institute invited the group present to express ideas not only to initiate a discussion but also as a means of further improving the third film they are set to produce in Aludeniya in the upcoming months. The discussion was facilitated by Ranjith Perera of the Social Scientists’ Association and the Civil Rights Movement and the film directors and producers responded to key ideas presented by members of the audience.

Ideas expressed about Wanaspathi Uruma Laddo included thoughts on how the traditional and transitional cultural facets had been woven into the film, the insights into gender relations among the indigenous groups made possible through the imagery etc. Thunwenno generated a discussion on if the film captured something unique to the particular community that is being portrayed and if the ‘real’ issues of the community were highlighted. A question was also raised regarding the link between the photography workshops conducted with the youth and the films produced. The directors and producers took the opportunity to respond to some of the comments. Clarifications regarding the nature of the link of the films to the photographs taken by the youth, the democratic process through which selection of themes was done for portrayal and some of the issues faced in editing the film to suit the preferences of the particular communities were made by those involved in the productions.