The Girls (1978)

Sumitra Peries | Sri Lanka | 1978 | 113 min | PG A sensitive exploration of two sisters whose dreams and aspirations come up against insurmountable class barriers. Set in rural Sri Lanka, The Girls is a delicate portrait of the aspirations of two sisters thwarted by their humble background. Kusum, a scholarship student and dutiful daughter, and her cousin Nimal, from a wealthier family, fall in love after having grown up together. However, her aunt, who has greater ambitions for her university-educated son, forbids their budding romance. Kusum’s happy-go-lucky sister Somey wins a beauty pageant but her acting career is derailed when she falls pregnant with an illegitimate child. Anchored by naturalistic performances from its young cast, this adaptation of Karunasena Jayalath’s novel poignantly depicts innocence lost and hopes dashed by class differences and patriarchy.