CSAFF #44: Whispering Mountains

When: Friday, September 22 · 5:30 - 7:30pm CDT

Film Name: Whispering Mountains

Director: Jagath Manuwarna

Language: Sinhalese (Sinhala)

Cast: Sarath Kothalawala, Priyantha Srikumara, Dharmapriya Dias, Sampath Jayaweera,

Country: Sri Lanka

Synopsis:

In an undefined time period in Sri Lanka, a youth uprising in being violently suppressed by the government. Stating through official media that the riots are not caused by socio-political issues but by an epidemic, where the young population of the country is afflicted with a contagious suicidal mental condition of paranormal origins, the government announces that they will set out to protect the country and its youth through a series of ‘sacred rituals’ which will successfully end the supposed curse. Anti-rebellion units are set up throughout the country. Young men and women are captured and killed in various ritualistic manner. In an abandoned building, a seven member anti-rebellion unit, lead by a government official, readies the dead bodies of nineteen slain youths. Two young men, Prasanna and Mahinda, are kept alive in captivity as the ritual must be performed on the 21 st day of the month, by burying twenty dead bodies atop a mountain, with one living youth being killed in sacrifice. Witnessing the brutal murders of the nineteen youths but not trusting the stated reasons behind the killings, tension arises between the officers of the unit. In the village temple, the aging senior Buddhist monk grows mentally disoriented, realizing that the killings are not a part of a protective ritual but rather a violent suppression of youth uprising against the government, Due to his ailment all religious duties of the temple fall on a young Buddhist monk, who must assist the government officials to perform the last rites of the dead youths to safeguard the preservation of the temple and its other young monks. Prasanna’s mother, who works in her village quarry performs religious acts praying for the safe return of her lost son. A bereaved father, who has grown mentally unstable with the loss of his son, slowly succumbs to alcoholism, continuing to call out to his son, believing him to be still inside their house. Prasanna and Mahinda are hand-cuffed to each other and the anti-rebellion unit officers drive them to the mountains in the night with the other dead bodies to perform the sacrificial ritual. During the drive, the friction between two young officers reach its peak erupting in a brawl. This provides a chance for the two captives to escape but the officers soon pursue. During the ensuing hunt Mahinda is shot dead, leaving Prasanna hand cuffed to his dead friend. A tensioned chase follows to capture Prasanna alive.In the village, grieving parents of lost youths watch in wonder at the mysterious lights atop themountain caused by the search, some of them believing that the lights to be from mystical spirits. Following a long pursuit Prasanna is captured alive. He is taken back to the mountaintop with the other dead bodies for the completion of the ritual, but a series of incidents cause the mission to unravel and two of the officers are killed. Prasanna finally escaped his captivity to disappear in to the mountains

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