Directing
Lester James Peries
Born April 5, 1919 · Dehiwala, Sri Lanka
Died April 29, 2018 · aged 99
Sri Lankabhimanya Lester James Peries was a Sri Lankan film director, screenwriter, and film producer. Considered as the father of Sri Lankan cinema, Lester worked as a filmmaker from 1949 to 2006 and was involved in over 28 films, including shorts and documentaries.
Known For
Mangrove Island · 1976Mangrove Island
★ 9.01976
MovieDrama
Madol Duwa (Mangrove Island) is a 1976 Sri Lankan drama film directed by Lester James Peries and produced by Upasena Marasinghe. The film stars Ajith Jinadasa as Upali, a young rebellious youth who travels to a small island to get away from the restrictive society around him. The film is based on Martin Wickremasinghe's 1947 novel Madol Doova. It was a commercial success
Baddegama · 1980Baddegama
★ 6.01980
MovieDrama
Baddegama or, more correctly, Beddegama is a 1980 award winning Sinhalese language film directed by Lester James Peries that follows the lives of village people in British Colonial Sri Lanka. The film is based on the 1913 book titled as "The Village in the Jungle" by Leonard Woolf. Silindu is a hunter in a small village where he and his family endure a life of hardships. After facing disease and poverty under colonial rule, the final blow comes when Silindu is tried for murder.
The Tree Goddess · 2018The Tree Goddess
2018
MovieDramaRomance
Vaishnavee (The Goddess), (Sinhalese: වෛෂ්ණාවී) is a 2018 Sri Lankan Sinhala drama thriller film directed by veteran director Sumitra Peries and produced by Mano Nanayakkara. 1930’s, Sri Lanka. Partly a compelling domestic drama, and a demonic love story, the narrative follows a puppet-maker who’s set to be married to a young girl. Unfortunately, the girl elopes with her secret lover. Devastated, the grieving puppet-maker ends up carving a puppet in her likeness, which eventually comes to life, setting in motion a fantastical chain of events.
Between Two Worlds · 1966Between Two Worlds
★ 6.61966
MovieDrama
The son of a newly rich industrialist becomes embroiled in a murder cover-up.
Yuganthaya · 1983Yuganthaya
1983
MovieDrama
Malin parts ways with his father Simon after realising that their ideologies do not match. While the father believes in using fear to control his employees, the son believes in equality and justice.
Kaliyugaya · 1982Kaliyugaya
★ 8.51982
MovieDrama
Piyal and Nanda have now aged, and their children have left them. Priya reminisces on her life after her son sends her a letter from London accusing her and her husband of various faults.
Awaragira · 1990Awaragira
★ 8.01990
MovieDrama
Awaragira is a 1990 Sri Lankan film directed by Lester James Peries and produced by Dilman Jayaratne for Dil Films. It stars Joe Abeywickrama, Iranganie Serasinghe and Tony Ranasinghe in lead roles along with Lucky Dias and Vasanthi Chathurani. Music composed by Premasiri Khemadasa.
Elegy For A Mother · 2006Elegy For A Mother
2006
MovieDrama
Sumanawathie's elder son is a Buddhist monk. Her daughter has run from home and married a man who ignores and quarrels with the daughter. Sumanawathie's younger son Saliya gets a job as a soldier. Sumanawathi gets upset as she is left alone in her house. As the film progresses she gets to know that her son has disappeared during a war operation. Her health declines rapidly. After a long time, Saliya comes again to her home alive. Meanwhile her elder son is killed by terrorists when he travels with a team to distribute goods to the poor people.
Filmography
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