| Yuganthaya [1] | |
| Starring: | Gamini Fonseka Richard De Zoysa Ramani Bartholomeusz Wickrema Bogoda |
| Cinematography: | William Blake |
| Editing: | Gladwin Fernando |
| Distributor: | Tharanga Chithrapata |
| Runtime: | 130 minutes |
| Language: | Sinhala |
Yuganthaya is a 1983 Sri Lankan drama film directed by Lester James Peries; it was adapted from the 1949 novel Yuganthaya by Martin Wickramasinghe, and deals with the beginning of labor unions in Sri Lanka.
The film won Lester Sri Lanka's Presidential Award for best director.[2] Critical reception was mixed, however, and some critics considered the film not at par with Lester's earlier films. It was entered into the 14th Moscow International Film Festival.[3]
Simon Kabilana (Gamini Fonseka) is a powerful ruthless capitalist who uses terror to keep his workers under control and yield high production quotas. His son Malin (Richard De Zoysa) is the complete opposite, coming back from England idolizing Marx and Lenin, causing the father and son to clash. Malin eventually gives up his fortune in his father's company and works toward a confrontation with his father.
The film was shot on 35mm and used eastmancolor.[4]