SANKARA

Last night I watched the award winning Sri Lankan movie “Sankara” with Gayathri and Janaka. With very different comments over the grape wine I was eager to decided on it myself. Having watched it it's sure thumbs up from me...

I felt connected to the movie in many ways as it portrayed the inner struggle over desire that a Buddhist monk faces and with my life plans this is something I face daily and a great challenge that I would have to overcome to achieve spiritual peace.

I guess that this would not be a movie that everybody will take to and I'm quite interested to know how somebody who's not familiar with Buddhism will understand it. If any of you happen watch the movie remember to talk to me about it when we meet.

I found how the lay desires of the monk was depicted through another physical representation ( hypothetical character) a fascinating and appropriate way to portray the story line.

Sankara Sri Lanka, 2006, Colour, 35mm, 85min

Ispired and deeply entrenched in Buddhist philosophy, the film revolves around a young Buddhist monk Ananda, arrives at a temple in order to restore its paintings.These paintings depict Thelapaththa Jathakaya, a moral story where Lord Buddha said that a man with a big target in life must not be swayed by passion (Keles), the five senses and especially beautiful women. One day, Ananda picks up a hair pin belonging to a young woman. While attempting to return this object to its owner, his repressed feelings are awoken by the beauty and sensuality of the woman. The young monk's inner spiritual world is plunged into turmoil. Then one day the paintings are destroyed. While restoring them for the second time Ananda begins to realize that he is trapped in a web of his worldly desires and attachments.

Awards won by Sankara ...

• The Special Jury Prize The Silver Pyramid at the 30th Cairo International Film Festival.

" We wish to underline the very special nature of this award, and the fact that it shows a cinematic achievement of the highest level by director Prasanna Jayakody"

• Award for the Best film in Competition from Asia at the 11th International Film Festival of Kerala

• Award for the Best Debut Director the 11th International Film Festival of Kerala

For a detailed review visit http://www.varietyasiaonline.com/content/view/518/