Sri Lanka 2006, Sinhalese, 35mm, 85 min
Director: Prasanna Jayakody
Screenplay: Prasanna Jayakody
Cinematography: Palitha Perera
Cast: Thumindu Dodantenna, Sachini Ayendra, Nilupa Heenkenda
Print Source: Somaratne Dissanayake
South-east Asian film continues its ascendancy with this stunning big screen debut from Sri Lanka 's Prasanna Jayakody. Infused with the aesthetics of Buddhist philosophy, Sankara is a parable about the tensions that exist in Buddhist societies between the desire for spiritual perfection and the satisfaction of sexual desires.
The film begins with a monk (Thumindhu Dodantenna) walking through emerald-green fields to a village temple in southern Sri Lanka . The monk has come to the temple to restore ancient frescoes depicting the consequences of worldly attachments. The frescoes are full of sexualized female figures and the chaos left in their wake. While concentrating on the beautiful pigments of the frescoes, the monk hears the light tinkle of a woman's bangles and discovers a hairpin, which immediately becomes a fetish to him.
Using this simple narrative mechanism to great effect, Buddhist precepts are continually contrasted with the power of female charms. With its beautiful sets and an astounding use of sound and colour, Sankara will appeal both to Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike.
The Cape Winelands will again at the 2012 edition of this festival present a series of Masterclasses and workshops. These events are sponsored by the City of Cape Town and Wesgro.
Winner of the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes festival, Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s new film has the magic of a fairy tale and the simplicity of a folk tale. Wonderfully immersive, slow and dreamy, 
