Conversation with Independent Filmmaker Sujewa Ekanayake about the making of “The Secret Society For Slow Romance”
I loved being able to watch the Secret Society For Slow Romance, but I found myself bursting with questions as soon as the credits rolled. I am honored that Sujewa Ekanayake, the auteur behind the work, took the time to do a Q&A with me about slow cinema, happiness, and working on independent movies through a pandemic.
What attracted you to slow cinema?
The first slow cinema type movie that I saw and was super impressed with was Mystery Train by Jim Jarmusch. The slow pace, the chill approach to life — the realistic characters, multi-ethnic casting in 1989 — ahead of its time — the humor, multiple stories, the great cinematography and music — all of that was excellent — and I thought that was a great way to tell a story in a movie.
Later on, as I discovered more indie, art house, foreign movies, I seemed to enjoy the slower movies more. It’s the opposite of the plot driven Hollywood movies — which do not linger and get into characters and the environment as much.
Slow cinema makes room for the lived experience, the present — with all its many details. It’s a nice form for me to use when making my movies. Also there is a Buddhistic/meditational/observational/compassionate…
