A virus sweeps across Sri Lanka, triggering a wave of suicides among young people. The government proclaims that only ancient healing rituals can eliminate the virus. As parents desperately wait for their missing children to return home, the military begins a ruthless process of disposing of infected bodies. A bold debut film by Jagath Manuwarna, Whispering Mountains employs the pandemic as a metaphor to indirectly address the suppressed memories of struggles and civil war in Sri Lanka. The film weaves together diverse perspectives on the landscape of resistance, through the young people who are pushed to the brink of death, the grieving parents, the monks who are sprouting seeds of doubt, and the absurd actions of the suppression troops. The film’s long takes, in which close-up shots that unveil the authoritative government’s false news and concealed truths gradually expand to long shots, create an impressive visual narrative. (HONG Soin)