Directed by: Dharmasena Pathiraja
Runtime: 125 minutes
Country: Sri Lanka
Language: Sinhala with English subtitles
Rating: NC16 (Some Coarse Language)

Full Synopsis

Looking for business, Victor (Vijaya Kumaratunga) returns from the city to Kalpitiya, the humble fishing village where his father was born. His arrival is met with hostility from the local patriarch, Anton, whose authority is challenged by the urban entrepreneur’s swaggering wealth. Tensions escalate when Victor falls in love with Helen (Malini Fonseka), a beautiful village girl who is already promised to another man, setting off a heated chain of violence.

Dharmasena Pathiraja’s realist drama pits the emerging urban bourgeoisie, with its capitalist values and disrespect for traditional social norms, against the established order of the village. Yet, the film hints at the ways in which both sides might prove to be equally exploitative. Shot on grey—rather than black-and-white film, Bambaru Avith evokes the dry, gritty atmosphere of the remote seaside village.

Restoration Notes

Selected for the Classics section of Cannes International Film Festival in 2020, Bambaru Avith (The Wasps Are Here) is the first South Asian film title restored by the Asian Film Archive. Intensive manual repairs were conducted to rescue the sole-surviving 35mm release print, which was in critical condition. 4750 hours were spent on the 4K digital restoration by L’Immagine Ritrovata, bringing this elegant masterpiece back to the silver screen.

Oldham Theatre’s opening hours

Friends of AFA members may select the “Friends of AFA” option and enter your membership number if you wish to redeem your remaining complimentary tickets.

For further assistance, please contact us at ticketing@asianfilmarchive.org 

Important Notice:

Do note that Oldham Theatre operates on a free seating arrangement. Doors will open 20 minutes before showtime so arrive early to choose a seat and avoid disrupting the screenings as AFA does not play ads and screenings will start promptly.

All patrons are encouraged to purchase your tickets online. If you choose to purchase tickets or merchandise at Oldham Theatre’s box office, cashless payment is preferred.
Measures will be taken to ensure the health and safety of all patrons at Oldham Theatre. Mask-wearing is optional as of 29 August 2022.

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T&Cs
Concession tickets apply to Students (Local & Overseas), Full-time National Servicemen (NSF), Senior Citizens (55 years and above) only.

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