Fisherman's Daughter (2006)

Genres - Drama  |   Sub-Genres - Message Movie, Social Problem Film  |   Run Time - 124 min.  |   Countries - Sri Lanka  |   MPAA Rating - NR
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Synopsis by Jason Buchanan

Charismatic Sri Lankan starlet Sangeetha Weeraratne assumes the role of a defiant orphan whose servitude to the local mudalali gradually blossoms into something much more intimate and profound in director/co-writer (along with Darrell Costa) Salinda P rera's adaptation of Raja Proctor's popular 1970s novel. Reluctantly thrust from her majestic, close-knit orphanage into the rough-hewn hut of impoverished aunt and uncle, teenage orphan Valli (Weeraratne) initially winces at the overwhelming odor of the bustling fishing village she will now call home. Over time her aversion to the powerful smell fades, and it isn't long before Valli is encouraging her fellow villagers to take a stand against the wealthy mudaliai who seems to have trapped her people in a never-ending cycle of despair and poverty. Though Valli vehemently detests the mudaliais who own the fishing boats and control the markets from behind the scenes, mounting debt soon forces the headstrong young woman to accept a position as nanny for the young sons of the powerful businessman. At first reluctant to be employed by the mudaliai, Valli gradually begins to assume the role of trusted confidante to the mother, bookkeeper and surrogate daughter to the father, and paramour to the son. Later, when the son takes a bride and Valli returns to the village, she uses her newfound knowledge of the mudaliai's inner circle to save the village from an ominous external threat.

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Keywords

fishing-village, orphan, prejudice, servant, social-injustice