TV Times -‘Ban on Aksharaya gives poor image of the country’

Never in the history of Sri Lankan cinema has so much controversy been generated, against a single filmmaker-Asoka Handagama.

Almost all his films have created controversies despite the international acclaims they have won. Worst of all, his latest film 'Aksharaya' (The Letter of Fire) was taken to courts along with the director and its actors. In a bid to protect his right to freedom of expression, the filmmaker had gone to the Supreme Court.

In the middle of controversies and mixed reactions on the film, TV Times spoke to the French co-producer and distributor of the film, Laurent Aleonard. While Upul Shantha Sannasgala and Irnathi Abeysinghe played role of local co-producers, Aleonard was the foreign producer and distributor. In addition to the three producers, Fondsud-the French Cultural Ministry selected 'Aksharaya' support in its post production work.

Having seen Asoka's previous directions, Aleonard who was running Héliotrope Films, an independent film distributing company, joined Asoka for Aksharaya's co-production.

Having read articles on two world famous French cinema magazines, "Cahiers du Cinema" and "Positif" which had mentioned an outstanding revelation coming from Sri Lanka, Laurent Aleonard in 2004 had come to Sri Lanka in search of Asoka.

Asked what he and his company was expecting promoting the Sri Lankan filmmaker, Aleonard said "Our main purpose is to contribute to the international recognition of talented authors rather than promoting any national or regional cinema as a whole". "It happens that Asoka is one of the greatest new filmmakers in contemporary Asian cinema, I am sure that he will be soon be considered a prominent director by the international film community," the French producer said. "His own country should be very proud to count such an outstanding personality and talent among its citizenry however controversial his work might appear to some people" he added.

When inquired about present the controversy and whether he anticipated these types of responses, Aleonard replied "the attacks turned against Asoka and his integrity both as an artiste and a person". "At first we just could not believe that some police investigation was conducted against him. This was a shock to all of us! In a just a few days, these attacks have raised a spontaneous indignation abroad: filmmakers, film critics, festival programmers, institutions and many filmgoers from France, Europe, North America, other Asian countries, have expressed their full support to Asoka and his work,".

‘ must say threats on Asoka and the ban on the film has caused a sense of great deception among people who had the chance to travel to Sri Lanka: this gave them a very poor image of the country they enjoyed so much’ the co-producer said.

Queried as to how the French government has taken the issue, Aleonard said "This is certainly most embarrassing from our "western" point of view. "How can we explain that a film which was sponsored (up to a significant part of its budget) by French national grants cannot be seen in its own country?" he questioned.

‘One must understand that getting such a sponsorship is a privilege: it shows the high consideration and great expectations granted to a most promising talent in the international film community. The case is closely followed by French authorities. Do not forget that Sri Lanka cinema was celebrated last year at the Cannes Film Festival where one full day was dedicated to the presentation of some prominent works from Sri Lankan filmmakers, including Handagama's previous film "Thani Thatuwen Piyabanna" (Flying with one wing)’ he stated.

"Deception and lack of understanding will be all the more critical among the French institutions and film community much more than the great efforts and attention than have been paid to promote emerging talents in Sri Lanka," he claimed.