An Indian-American man’s journey to Sri Lanka for a romantic reunion takes an introspective turn in this tenderly comedic yet wise examination of love’s fragile impermanence. In his poised debut feature, writer-director Shaun Seneviratne trains an authentically intimate lens on the push-and-pull dynamics within a couple’s fraying long-distance relationship. After months apart, Ben arrives eager to rekindle intimacy with his American girlfriend, Suzanne, who has been working abroad in Sri Lanka. But their reunion falters as her NGO work intrudes, testing bonds already strained by distance.
With a loose and naturalistic verité style, Seneviratne weaves between awkward humor and poignant emotional truth. Tender and optimistic at its core, Ben and Suzanne, A Reunion in 4 Parts is a disarmingly authentic glimpse into modern romance’s complexities. The film, which recently premiered at the 2024 SXSW Film & TV Festival, provides a clear-eyed reminder that pausing love’s trajectory risks profoundly redirecting its path.
Shaun Seneviratne
Shaun Seneviratne is a writer and director of emo movies. His first feature, Ben and Suzanne, A Reunion in 4 Parts, was shot on location in Sri Lanka and world premiered last March at SXSW Film & TV Festival. Seneviratne’s previous shorts have screened at Nantucket, Montclair, CAAMFest, San Diego Asian, and Bushwick. Based in New York City, he teaches at the Brooklyn STEAM Center, co-hosts the podcast Rohmercast, and runs Redacted Screenings.
