• Sumitra Peries’ directorial debut restored and headed to Cannes

Stories told by women for women are few and far between. While Hollywood blockbusters such as Greta Gerwig’s ‘Barbie’ and ‘Little Women’ sparked conversation on what it means to be a woman living in a world which favours men, South Asian and perhaps Sri Lankan women have barely been afforded such representation. 

Therefore, when it was announced that the Sri Lankan classic movie ‘Gehenu Lamai’ has been restored and would be screened at the Cannes Film festival, excitement brewed. 

The Cannes Film Festival is one of the ‘Big Three’ European film festivals held in Cannes, France. The festival previews movies of all genres and has been an incredible platform for international cinema. The 78th edition will take place from 13-24 May.

Among its selection this year is ‘Gehenu Lamai’. The film was restored by the Film Heritage Foundation at L’Immagine Ritrovata laboratory in association with the Lester James Peries and Sumitra Peries Foundation. Funding was provided by a grant under the Aegis of FISCH: France-India-Sri Lanka Cine Heritage – Saving Film Across Borders. ‘Gehenu Lamai’ was restored using the best surviving elements, which were the 35 mm combined dupe negative and two 35 mm release prints preserved at the National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka.

In order to recognise the achievement of Sri Lankan cinema, those involved in the film’s restoration as well as its making gathered last week to speak on the significance of the movie and its screening at Cannes.

By women, for women 

‘Gehenu Lamai’, released in 1978, was directed by Sri Lanka’s first female movie director Sumitra Peries. The tale follows a working-class teenage girl named Kusum as she finds herself and her fate through friendship, romance, class, and gender identity. 

“What is special about the film ‘Gehenu Lamai’ is that it is a film about the Sri Lankan woman and the struggles and choices she must take on,” French Embassy Cultural Counsellor of the Cultural and Corporation Section Olivia Bellemere said.

While French Ambassador Remi Lambert echoed these views, a statement issued on the ‘Gehenu Lamai’ restoration last week quoted him as saying: “In choosing to restore ‘Gehenu Lamai’, the directorial debut of Sumitra Peries, we sought not only to safeguard a cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s film history, but also to bring a masterpiece of women’s storytelling back into the light. The choice felt obvious: What stronger symbol than to restore such an essential cinematic landmark which showcases Sri Lankan women’s cultural heritage, all the more so as it was directed by an artist who was, quite literally, an ambassador of Franco-Sri Lankan relations.”

The film follows a young working-class girl who enters a boarding school and finds employment as a housekeeper during her visits home. The heroine, Kusum, is expected to portray the expectations of working-class women; innocent and obedient both to the patriarchal norms governing society and those whose economic and social class is higher than her own. However, her decision to fall in love with someone of a higher social class puts her at risk of both economic and social ruin.

Despite being released in the 1970s, the story touches on themes of a woman’s place in a society that is constantly focused on class and capitalism. This was perhaps a reality that the late Sumitra Peries was aware of and wanted to give light to. Her other films such as ‘Ganga Addara’, ‘Vaishnavee’, and ‘Loku Duwa’ shine a light on the realities of women as they explore their life and place in a traditional and highly patriarchal society.

Her films explore the impacts of romantic and often socially unaccepted love, arranged marriage, and mental illness on women and how society perceives women who preserve and rebel against social norms.

Peries’ films have not only been instrumental in discussing themes that women in both the 20th and the 21st Centuries relate to but have also given rise to some of the best talent in Sri Lankan cinema.

Growth of women in cinema 

Actresses in Sri Lanka have long been overshadowed despite their ambition and aspirations. Many of them are constantly overshadowed by Western, Indian, and South Korean actresses while they struggle to gain respect and recognition in an industry dominated by men. Several of them are also often burdened with unpaid care work and traditional gender roles that limit their ability to contribute to the film industry, especially after marriage and motherhood. 

This is a fate that actress Vasanthi Chathurani said she was fortunate to escape.

“I was introduced into the world of cinema through the film ‘Gehenu Lamai’,” Chathurani said. “So, I am very thankful for both Lester James Peries and, of course, Sumitra Peries for scouting me and selecting me for this film as without their belief in me, I would not be where I am now. In fact, I was just an ordinary school girl whose life would have turned out to be different if not for them.” 

Lester James Peries was a film director, screenwriter, and film producer who was responsible for the production of ‘Gehenu Lamai’. He was also the husband of Sumitra Peries and together they were responsible for bringing the classic film to light. 

“Due to working with both Lester James and Sumitra Peries, I have been fortunate enough to learn not only the art and craft of Sri Lankan cinema and acting but also the skills necessary to survive as an actress in the Sri Lankan film landscape,” Chathurani said.

A restoration of female films

Throughout the last few years, audiences have asked for art, music, and movies that explore the female gaze. Amidst a society that is still flooded with patriarchal norms and systems, art and cinema are perhaps the only forms of expression of the nuances of femininity. 

So, the restoration of ‘Gehenu Lamai’ is not just a triumph for Sri Lankan cinema but for films told from a female perspective, especially from a South Asian female perspective.

“I am very excited that a Sri Lankan film that was a result of a lot of hard work and perseverance is being recognised at an international level,” National Film Corporation Chairperson Sudath Mahaadivulwewa said. “This is not only a triumph for Sri Lankan cinema but also for Sumitra Peries; the first female film director in our country.”

Amidst the increased recognition that female perspectives have received, the film ‘Gehenu Lamai’ is one of Sri Lanka’s many contributions to feminine expressions.