The first film by a pioneer of Sri Lankan cinema
"A THRILLING LOVE SONG TO CINEMA."
LE NOUVEL OBS
AVAILABLE FOR THE 1ST TIME ON BLU-RAY
Kusum is a young girl from a poor family in rural Sri Lanka. Hardworking and obedient, she spends her holidays serving Mrs. Kamalawathi and her sons, in an atmosphere of mutual affection. Nimal, the eldest and a brilliant student, introduces her to studies, and Kusum soon enters boarding school to complete her education. A few years pass, and Nimal returns from university. When he sees Kusum again, it's love at first sight. But the young girl vows not to give in to this love, believing she is not socially worthy of it…
The Girls (1978) marks a major turning point in Sri Lankan cinema: it is the first film directed by a woman, the gifted Sumitra Peries. Opting for a delicate mise-en-scène, in black and white imbued with poetry and sensuality, the filmmaker paints a sensitive portrait of the female condition in her country. In the role of Kusum, the debutante Wasanthi Chathurani captivates with her graceful beauty and perfectly embodies the silenced voice of young women forced to renounce their desires. The Girls is available for the first time on Blu-ray™ in its new 4K restoration carried out by the Film Heritage Foundation!
THE GIRLS by Sumitra Peries
(1978 - Black & White - 113 min)
Original version with French subtitles
Blu-ray Edition
New 4K restoration
Previously unreleased on BLU-RAY
THE FILM
. NEW 4K RESTORATION
. ORIGINAL VERSION WITH FRENCH SUBTITLES DTS-HD MASTER AUDIO 1.0
BONUS FEATURES
. INTERVIEW WITH AJITH JINADASA (4 min)
Nimal's interpreter discusses the director's method, focused on naturalness and spontaneity in young actors.
. INTERVIEW WITH WASANTHI CHATHURANI (3 min)
Kusum's interpreter is proud of the legacy of Sumitra Peries' film, forty-seven years after its release.
. THE RESTORATION
. TRAILER 2026
--------------------------------------
BD 50 • HIGH DEFINITION MASTER • 1080/23.98p • AVC ENCODING
Original Version DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 • French Subtitles
Respected 1.37 Format • Black & White • Film Length: 113 min
Released September 1, 2026
