An Inquiry into Whether Documentary Filmmaking Can Be Considered an Approach to Feature Cinema Within the Context of the Cinematic Tradition of Lester James Peries

Abstract

Lester, who is considered a leading influence in shaping the course of local cinema, is one of the individuals who explored Sri Lankan themes in early documentary filmmaking within the country. This is evident through his contributions as an assistant director under Ralph Keane in the Government Film Unit, particularly in films like "Heritage of Lanka" (1951) and "Nelumgama" (1934). Lester's films, "Conquest in the Dry Zone" (1954) and "Be Safe or Be Sorry" (1955), ventured outdoors and embraced shooting in natural sunlight. This study aims to investigate whether Lester's documentary filmmaking approach served as a precursor to his feature films as part of the cinematic tradition of Lester James Peries. The research methodology involves a comparative analysis of how rural life and the environment were portrayed in Lester's documentaries produced for the government film unit before he embarked on making feature films. The parallels between his first feature film, "Rekhava" (1956), and the documentaries created prior to it align with Lester's assertion that his technical skills acquired under Ralph Keane's guidance, coupled with his own observations and understanding of the authentic Sri Lankan society, paved the way for locally-rooted feature filmmaking. Ultimately, this study reveals that despite Lester's upbringing in a more standard, Westernised society in the capital, he was able to create feature films that authentically represented the environment and people's lives in Sri Lanka, thanks to his technical expertise in documentary filmmaking and his in-depth knowledge gained from analysing the subjects within his documentaries.