Nidhanaya

The crowning achievement of the late Lester James Peries – Sri Lanka’s most influential filmmaker – The Treasure is also the master’s most controversial and darkest picture. Based on a short story by renowned Sinhala writer G. B. Senanayake, The Treasure tells the story of an idle, wealthy middle-aged man who stumbles upon a map for a treasure that can only be attained by sacrificing a virgin woman. The measured pace, meticulous set design, and evocative cinematography conjure up an atmospheric tale that doubles as a meditation on crumbling class structures and the destructive legacy of European colonialism. (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival)