Avilenasului (2020) - Sinhala Movie

Today's movie lovers in Sri Lanka are in love with movies not because of Sinhala movies nor because they love the theater experience. Most people watch movies at home in TVs, PCs or mobile devices than in a theater. That's why we have to face some specific issues while watching a movie in theater. For example, when you watch a non-Sinhala movie with a subtitle and if you miss a dialogue, there is no way to backward it for a few seconds. And if a particular scene takes too long to process in mind, we miss the progression. Because of these things, watching a movie in a theater is a different experience than watching a movie in any other private way. In a theater, our comprehension and processing ability are tested.

I wanted to tell this because there were many occasions I felt the need to backward the movie few seconds and re-watch. This was not because of a processing issue but because I simply wanted to re-watch the scene. And it's the first time this happened while watching a Sinhala movie. That's because it's frames and camera work was excellent. So, till I watch the movie in the future in another format, I thought of writing down some thoughts about it. Actually, this is not entirely about the movie. Just a few things I felt later about the surroundings of the movie.

I realized that I was not alone in meeting Tarantino and David Lynch in the movie after reading some relevant material about it. The style of the scenes, the use of colors, the music used, the nature of the events and the violence are some features I spotted in Avilenasului. I've seen almost all the Tarantino movies, but only seen a few of Lynch's. I wanted to clarify what I saw in Lynch’s movies so what I read and watched helped me to understand Awilenasului a bit more. I have not properly learned about these things. Therefore, these ideas may not be 100% fundamentally correct.

Lynch is considered a surrealist moviemaker. He talks about an idea that exists outside or inside what is actually seen on screen in his movies. Sometimes he takes the person who watches the movie, into the movie. An improbable event or object constructs events of the movie. Understanding them also depends on the capacity of the person who watches. Lynch presents a series of events rather than a perfectly standardized story. Interpretations can vary according to what each person feels and understands through those events. And I have not heard that Lynch explained any of his movies. He says that he makes a movie in the language of movies. They cannot be understood in any other language. In that sense, he is a director who never gives the audience any chance or forgiveness.

Avilenasului is technically a nearly perfect Sinhala movie. The camera operates at a range never seen before in a Sri Lankan movie. It is a new experience to see such frames. There is certain loneliness behind the colors. It is very rare for a local movie to express itself in colors. Like I said before, there were a number of scenes that I felt I should watch again. Overall the look of the movie is attractive. It's a quality job.

I heard the same quality in the music. ‘Manike mama aye gedara enawa’ is a theme in a way. Anyone can link to the repetitious consent in the song to the movie. The small part of Priyantha Sirikumara among the actors pops up differently from the rest. He should be given more opportunities.

Usually the fantasy of the Sri lankan cultural people is to get married. 'Then' make children, take care of them and spend the cycle of nature. But there is very little cultural talk about the challenges after that 'then' section. It says that problems of the family should keep inside the family. As a result, one is less likely to know about the unpleasant situations and stress that he/ she may face when living together for a long time. People live on the ground and understand the rules can manage this. But I think the chances of that not happening are very high. By now, social media is absorbing some of that family pressure. However, even after being released on social media, one cannot predict the decisions one will make regarding a difficult family situation. Avilenasului kind of ignited that thought inside me.

We Sri Lankans are grown with stories. Stories with a beginning, a middle and an end are the common type of stories we’ve heard. Many people become movie lovers as an extension of the desire to listen to and enjoy stories. Serious movie lovers are constantly on the lookout for different types of movies. Enjoy different flavors along the way. Awilenasului is a film with a different flavor that was developed in Sinhala cinema. If you go for a story behind it, it'll be a mess for you. This is more of a series of events than a story. May be you’ll feel that there are several stories behind it. Or are there two instances of the same story? Or two representations of the same story? A present encounter with the past? Or is it a simple story that includes only what you see and nothing more?

It is up to the person to sort it out. Even if you go to the theater with a group, the movie gives you a personal experience. Yes, all the movies are like that but this is extraordinary.

This is not a movie that suits everyone. But if Sri Lankan cinema is to develop, films like this are needed. That diversity is essential to attract Sri Lankan film fans that enjoy international cinema with a variety.