BFI London Film Festival: The Strange Familiar

Malith Hegoda presents a brutally honest and gripping examination of the breakdown between an urban Singhalese couple, exploring the moral and emotional dilemma of betrayal within a marriage. Housewife Dinithi fusses over her architect husband Sachinthra as he leaves for the office. He cold shoulders her and secretly hides her mobile phone in a cupboard. Later that night, a huge chasm opens up between the two as Dinithi asks for her mobile. It transpires that Dinithi has had an affair and the more she begs for forgiveness the colder Sachinthra behaves. It is clear that for Sachinthra trust has been severely damaged and their relationship threatens to spin out of control. Samadhi Laksiri and Bimal Jayakody give compelling performances as the wounded couple in this emotionally controlled tale that has universal resonances. [Cary Rajinder Sawhney]

Tickets for London Film Festival screenings can be purchased through the BFI and BFI Box Office 020 7928 3232 (9.30am-8.30pm daily) or the London Film Festival website: bfi.org.uk/lff