The Forsaken Land Explained

The Forsaken Land
Sulanga Enu Pinisa
සුළඟ එනු පිණිස
Director:Vimukthi Jayasundara
Producer:Philippe Avril
Francisco Villa-Lobos
Starring:Kaushalya Fernando
Mahendra Perera
Nilupuli Jayawardena
Music:Nadeeka Guruge
Cinematography:Channa Deshapriya
Editing:Gisèle Rapp-Meichler
Runtime:108 minutes
Country:Sri Lanka
Language:Sinhala

The Forsaken Land (Sulanga Enu Pinisa) (Sinhala; Sinhalese: සුළඟ එනු පිණිස) is a 2005 Sri Lankan drama film directed by Vimukthi Jayasundara and co-produced by Phillip Amril and Francisco Vilolobos.[1] It stars Kaushalya Fernando and Mahendra Perera in lead roles along with Nilupuli Jayawardena and Hemasiri Liyanage.[2] Music composed by Nadeeka Guruge. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Caméra d'Or.[3] [4] It is the 1,055th Sri Lankan film in the Sinhala cinema.[5]

Cast

Reception

The film received fairly positive reviews from critics. The film holds a 63% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average rating of 5.8/10.

Recognition

The film was selected as the best Cine Mart project in The 2004 International Film Festival Rotterdam. The film won the award Prince Claus Film Grant at the same film festival.[6]

The film made history when it was selected to honored at the International Cannes Film Festival.[7] It is only the second time where a Sri Lankan film has entered to the competitive section of the Cannes Film Festival, after Dr. Lester James Peries’ maiden Rekava contest at Cannes in 1957.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 'The Forsaken Land' . Sunday Times . 4 December 2019.
  2. Web site: 'Sulanga Enu Pinisa' flashes across Cannes for Lankan release . Sunday Times . 4 December 2019.
  3. Web site: Festival de Cannes: The Forsaken Land . 12 December 2009. festival-cannes.com.
  4. Web site: Sri Lankan Screened Films . Sarasaviya . 11 March 2017.
  5. Web site: Sri Lanka Cinema History . National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka . 3 October 2016.
  6. Web site: Vimukthi's Forsaken Land . Sunday Times . 4 December 2019.
  7. Web site: Vimukthi makes his name at Cannes debut . Sunday Times . 4 December 2019.
  8. Web site: Vimukthi makes it to Cannes . Sunday Times . 4 December 2019.