1999

(Canada, 2009, 111 mins, HDCAM)

EXEC PROD: Sabesan Jeyarajasingam
PROD: K. K. Kaandee, Malini Ponnambalam
SCR: Lenin M. Sivam
CAM: Sabesan Jeyarajasingam
ED: Sinniah Arulshankar
MUS: Rajkumar Thillaiyampalam
Cast: Suthan Mahalingam, Thelepan Imman Somasegaram, Kaandee Kana, Ampalavanar Ketheeswaran

This film is in competition for the Canwest Award for Best Canadian Feature Film

Lenin M. Sivam's insightful drama explores the paths of three young Tamil immigrants growing up in a Toronto community grappling with gang violence in 1999. Anpu, Akilan, and Kumar each left Sri Lanka years ago at an early age due to civil war. Anpu (played by an impressive Suthan Mahalingam) currently lives at home with his father, a workaholic who is tough on his son but unable to resist spoiling him. Anpu has been a member of Kumar's gang for years. He is hoping to tell his longtime crush that he has feelings for her on her birthday this weekend. Akilan (Kaandee Kana) has a similar romantic plan, since he has fallen in love with the same girl. Akilan attends a good university, and spends his spare time raising money for charity. Both of Akilan's parents were killed in the civil war, but Akilan has risen above his adverse situation. Kumar (Thelepan Somasegaram) also lost both parents and has struggled to raise his brother without them. He didn't plan on leading a gang, and now he's set to announce his intentions to quit that lifestyle. Will the weekend live up to expectations as each tries to take a step towards making his dreams come true?

1999 presents us with a fresh voice in Canadian filmmaking. Emotional and eye-opening, Sivam's film reminds us of the challenges and opportunities of immigrant life, and the devastating impacts of experiencing civil war.

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