WSWS : Arts Review - www.wsws.org (World Socialist Web site)

"The struggle of the common man for self-dignity is very profound"

An interview with Prasanna Vithanage, Sri lankan filmmaker

By Richard Phillips
1 March 2000

Back to screen version

Sri Lankan filmmaker Prasanna Vithange recently visited Sydney, Austrailia for a special showing of his latest film, Pura Handa Kaluwara (Death on a Full Moon Day). The film, which was reviewed on the World Socialist Web Site on February 29, explores one man's attempt to deal with the impact of his family of the Sri Lankan government's 16-year war against the Tamils in the north.

While Death on a Full Moon Day has not been released in Sri Lanka, It has been shown at several film Festivals over the last year and had limited screenings in some cities in the North America, Europe and Asia. It is due for commercial release in France and and has been submitted for this year's Sydney Film Festival. Vithanage's film was nominated for Best Asian Screenplay at last year's Singapore international Film Festival and Joe Abeywickrama, who starred in the film, won a Silver Screen Award for Best Asian Actor at that festival.