Lester James Peries

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Lester James Peries

Born	April 25, 1919 (1919-04-25) (age 89) Dehiwela, Sri Lanka
Occupation	Filmmaker
Spouse(s)	Sumitra Peries

Lester James Peiris (born April 5, 1919) is is an internationally acclaimed Sri Lankan film director, screenwriter, and film producer.^[1]^[2]^[3] An active filmaker since 1949, Peries has been involved in over 28 films, including shorts and documentries. He has received critical acclaim for directing Rekava, Gamperaliya, Nidhanaya, Golu Hadawatha, Kaliyugaya, Awaragira and Yuganthaya.

Peries's films often deal with Sri Lankan family life in rural settings and conflicted characters.

1 Life and career
2 Awards
3 Filmography
4 External links
5 References

[edit] Life and career

[edit] Early life

Lester James Peries was born on April 9, 1919 in Dehiwela, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Lester's father Dr. James Francis Peries had studied medicine in Scotland and his mother Ann Gertrude Winifred Jayasuria was a graduate of St. Bridget's Convent in Colombo. Jayasuriya notably was the first student to pass the Senior Cambridge exam at the school. Lester had three siblings: Erica, Ivan and Noel.

The Peries family was a Roman Catholic family that had become anglicized. Growing up Lester only spoke english at home and celebrated Christian traditions like Christmas. His only link to Sinhala culture was his grandmother who didn't trust Western medicine and spoke Sinhalese. At the age of eleven Lester was given a 8mm Kodasko projector by his father as a gift.

He attended St. Peter's College in Colombo as a teenager before dropping out to pursue a career in journalism at the age of 17. He found his first work with the Daily News writing for the blue pages. In 1939 he joined the Times of Ceylon working under Indian editor Frank Moraes. He also reviewed books on Radio Ceylon for a short period.

Peries first real work with production came when he joined a theater group called Drama Circle.

[edit] Stay in England

In 1947 Peries traveled to England on his mother's advice to join his brother Ivan who was there on an art scholarship. Moreas suggested writing a column from the country to be published in the Times which became "Letter on the Arts from England."

In 1964, he married Sumitra Gunawardene, who is also a distinguished directress now.

[edit] Career

In 1956, Lester made his entry in to national cinema with the globally acclaimed "Rekava", which was a story based on village life. With this he revolutionized Sri Lankan cinema, giving it a unique identity. Afterwards he made many award-winning films such as "Gamperaliya" in 1964 based on Martin Wickramasinghe's famous novel; "Delowak Athara" in 1966; "Golu Hadawatha" in 1968 based on the novel by Karunasena Jayalath; "Nidhanaya" in 1970; "Yuganthaya" in 1983 and many more. He has directed over 20 films.

[edit] Awards

Sri Lankabhimanya The highest Civil Honour of Sri Lanka (2007).
Recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 31st International Film Festival of India (2000)
Commandeur (commander) in the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters) from the French government (1997)
Diploma of Honour Venice Film Festival for the film "Conquest In the Dry Zone" (1954)
The Mini Cinema Cup for the short film "Soliloquy" for displaying the best technical proficiency by the Institute of Amateur and Experimental Film Makers Festival -Great Britain (1951)
Amateur Cine World Silver Plaque for the experimental film "Farewell to Childhood" - ten best films of the year - Great Britain (1950)

[edit] Filmography

Amma Warune (An Elegy for a Mother, 2007)
Wekande Walauwa (Mansion by the Lake, 2002)
Awaragira (The Sunset, 1995)
Yuganthaya (The Changing Village Part 3, 1983)
Kaliyugaya (The Time of Kali - The Changing Village Part 2, 1982)
Baddegama (Village in the jungle, 1980)
Veera Puran Appu (Rebellion, 1979)
Pinhami (1979)
Ahasin Polawata (White Flowers for the Dead, 1978)
Madol Duwa (Enchanted Island, 1976)
The God King (1975)
Desa Nisa (The Eyes, 1972)
Nidhanaya (The Treasure, 1970)
Akkara Paha (Five Acres of Land, 1969)
Golu Hadawatha (Cold Heart, 1968)
Ran Salu (The Yellow Robe, 1967)
Delovak Athara (Between Two Worlds, 1966)
Gamperaliya (The Changing Village Part 1, 1964)
Sandesaya (The Message, 1960)
Rekava (Line of Destiny, 1956)

Autobiography- Lester by Lester James Peiris. Lester talks about the 20 films he has made in 20 chapters, 212 pages with photographs in the book Lester by Lester released April 21, 2007 ISBN 978 9551266738 published by Vijitha Yapa Publications, Colombo, Sri Lanka.^[4]