Bambaru Avith (The Wasps are Here) (Sinhala: බඹරු ඇවිත්) is a 1978 Sri Lankan Sinhala drama film directed by Dharmasena Pathiraja and produced by director himself with Thilak Godamanne for Saranga Salaroo. It explores tradition and exploitation following the introduction of capitalism to a tiny fishing village and the subsequent clash between the local boss and the urban outsider.[1]
In a fishing village, Anton Aiya is an exploiter who outwardly resembles and acts like a regular fisherman, but he exploits and feeds off the other fishermen. Into this setting arrives members of the urban entrepreneurial youth. They have adapted to Western Culture, dressing like Westerners and preferring Western music.[1]
Conflict arises between Anton Aiya and Baby Mahattaya (Victor), a representative of the urban youth. A middle-class leftist Weerasena is also of this group. The arrival of these youths has clearly caused a social crisis requiring a solution and all Weerasena can do is stand on a platform and deliver a speech that no one listens to. He finally leaves for the city.[1]
Premasiri Khemadasa composed the music for the film. The two main songs are "Udumbara" and "Handunagathoth Oba Ma."[1]
Critical reception
Steve Rose of The Guardian, in a 2021 review of a restored version of the film, gave it a score of 4/5 stars. He wrote: "this realist drama from 1978 is well worth the effort, not only because it is a landmark of Sri Lankan cinema... but also because it addresses universal socio-political themes with elegant simplicity." He concluded: "Despite the realist authenticity and political intent, there’s also a gentle sensuality to the story, with soft folk music and moments of tender romance. The characters are believably complex and conflicted, and the sandy, sun-bleached landscape is evocatively portrayed. It feels like a precious snapshot of a place and time rarely glimpsed."[2]
Presidential awards for the Best Film and Best Director - 1979
OCIC awards for Best Film and Best Director - 1979
Named the fourth Best Sri Lankan Film of the first 50 years by a Presidential council
Featured in the Cannes Classics 2020 - 4K film and sound restoration was carried out by L’Immagine Ritrovata using the sole-surviving 35mm film positive.
References
^ abcd. Czech Business Weekly. 2005. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 5 January 2008.
^Rose, Steve (12 July 2021). "The Wasps Are Here review – gently sensual Sri Lankan classic". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
bambaru, avith, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, march, 2022. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Bambaru Avith news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article needs an improved plot summary You can provide one by editing this article March 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message Bambaru Avith The Wasps are Here Sinhala බඹර ඇව ත is a 1978 Sri Lankan Sinhala drama film directed by Dharmasena Pathiraja and produced by director himself with Thilak Godamanne for Saranga Salaroo It explores tradition and exploitation following the introduction of capitalism to a tiny fishing village and the subsequent clash between the local boss and the urban outsider 1 Bambaru Avith බඹර ඇව ත DVD coverDirected byDharmasena PathirajaWritten byDharmasena Pathiraja Malini PathirajaProduced bySaranga SalarooStarringJoe AbeywickremaVijaya KumaratungaMalini FonsekaCyril WickramageWimal Kumara de CostaCinematographyDonald KarunaratneEdited bySextas AponsuMusic byPremasiri KhemadasaRelease date11 August 1978Running time160 minutesCountrySri LankaLanguageSinhala Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Music 4 Critical reception 5 Awards and nominations 6 References 7 External linksPlot EditIn a fishing village Anton Aiya is an exploiter who outwardly resembles and acts like a regular fisherman but he exploits and feeds off the other fishermen Into this setting arrives members of the urban entrepreneurial youth They have adapted to Western Culture dressing like Westerners and preferring Western music 1 Conflict arises between Anton Aiya and Baby Mahattaya Victor a representative of the urban youth A middle class leftist Weerasena is also of this group The arrival of these youths has clearly caused a social crisis requiring a solution and all Weerasena can do is stand on a platform and deliver a speech that no one listens to He finally leaves for the city 1 Cast EditJoe Abeywickrema as Anton Aiya Vijaya Kumaratunga as Victor Baby Mahattaya Malini Fonseka as Helen Cyril Wickramage as Cyril Wimal Kumara de Costa as Weerasena Amarasiri Kalansuriya as Sanath Daya Thennakoon as Francis Ruby de Mel as Celestina Helen s mother Somasiri Dehipitiya as Seba Vincent Vaas as Anton s friend Daya Alwis as Church father W Jayasiri as Michael S H Somapala as Christopher Piyasena Ahangama as Navy officerMusic EditPremasiri Khemadasa composed the music for the film The two main songs are Udumbara and Handunagathoth Oba Ma 1 Critical reception EditSteve Rose of The Guardian in a 2021 review of a restored version of the film gave it a score of 4 5 stars He wrote this realist drama from 1978 is well worth the effort not only because it is a landmark of Sri Lankan cinema but also because it addresses universal socio political themes with elegant simplicity He concluded Despite the realist authenticity and political intent there s also a gentle sensuality to the story with soft folk music and moments of tender romance The characters are believably complex and conflicted and the sandy sun bleached landscape is evocatively portrayed It feels like a precious snapshot of a place and time rarely glimpsed 2 Awards and nominations EditSri Lankan representative at 1978 Moscow International Film Festival Screened at Mostra and Los Angeles Film Festivals Presidential awards for the Best Film and Best Director 1979 OCIC awards for Best Film and Best Director 1979 Named the fourth Best Sri Lankan Film of the first 50 years by a Presidential council Featured in the Cannes Classics 2020 4K film and sound restoration was carried out by L Immagine Ritrovata using the sole surviving 35mm film positive References Edit a b c d Moving Images Czech Business Weekly 2005 Archived from the original on 28 September 2007 Retrieved 5 January 2008 Rose Steve 12 July 2021 The Wasps Are Here review gently sensual Sri Lankan classic The Guardian Retrieved 27 January 2022 External links EditBambaru Avith at IMDb The Wasps Are Here at Rotten Tomatoes This article related to Sri Lankan film is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bambaru Avith amp oldid 1142778919, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
