Get ready for a gripping sci-fi tale from Sri Lankan cinema! The first trailer for Spying Stars, the new film by acclaimed director Vimukthi Jayasundara, just dropped. This Cannes-winning filmmaker is set to premiere his latest work at the 30th Busan International Film Festival, and it’s already buzzing in the world of international movies.
The story unfolds in a dystopian future where machines rule everything. A mysterious pandemic called Illvibe grips the world, born from tech overload. Scientist Anandi, played by Indira Tiwari, heads to Hanuman Island to say her final goodbyes to her late father. But things take a dark turn—she ends up quarantined in a lonely hotel, stalked by a creepy, mysterious star. She breaks free and finds shelter with a mother and her transgender daughter, sparking a journey of loss, guilt, and survival.
Jayasundara shares his vision in a director’s note: "I created Illvibe as a future disease rooted in technology and gadgets. It’s a way to explore the universal pain of grief that hits us all today and tomorrow." The film dives deep into these themes, questioning how we hold onto our humanity amid constant surveillance and machine control. He calls it a "spiritual liberation film" that challenges the voyeuristic tech world we live in.
Starring alongside Tiwari are Hidaayath Hazeer, Saumya Liyanage, Samanalee Fonseka, Shreepura Mithra, and Kaushalya Fernando. The trailer kicks off with Indira’s character isolated in that eerie hotel, suspected of carrying the Illvibe virus. Looking heartbroken over her dad’s death, she wanders into the forest and even eats a flower in her despair. Then come the chills: a severed hand, a massive spying machine hovering in the sky, and machines that detect her guilt. She insists she didn’t kill her father, leaving viewers hooked and suspicious.
This France-India-Sri Lanka co-production comes from House on Fire, Eleenora Images, and Film Council Production. Bangkok-based Diversion handles world sales and shared the trailer on YouTube—check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sq_agoCcH0s&t=129s. Eeshit Narain shot the film, with a haunting score by Alokananda Dasgupta.
Jayasundara isn’t new to the spotlight. He grabbed the Camera d’Or at Cannes for his debut The Forsaken Land in 2004 and has since wowed audiences at top festivals like Venice, Locarno, and Toronto with films such as Between Two Worlds (2009). Spying Stars promises to be his next big statement on tech dystopia and human emotions.
If you’re into sci-fi dramas blending real-world fears with stunning visuals, this Sri Lankan film could be your next must-watch. Keep an eye on Busan for the world premiere!
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