Photo: Marika Kent
We caught up with Brooklyn-based actor/writer/producer Anastasia Olowin who stars in Ben and Suzanne, A Reunion in 4 Parts, which recently had its world premiere in March at SXSW. This marked the first time a narrative feature film by a Sri Lankan director premiered in the United States. Filmed on location in Sri Lanka and over a span of 10 years, writer/director Shaun Seneviratne cast non-professional actors and some of his family members as well to give it a more authentic feel.
It follows Ben Santhanaraj (Sathya Sridharan) as he travels to Sri Lanka to try and rekindle his relationship with Suzanne Hopper (Anastasia Olowin), an American NGO worker, after a long separation. But when Suzanne’s boss demands she work during their vacation, their love is tested by a dilemma: desire versus duty. As Suzanne struggles with the responsibilities of her job, Ben tries everything to revive their intimacy, leading to candid conversations and chaotic twists as New Year’s Eve – and Ben’s departure – looms ahead. The film is a blend of raw romance, drama, and comedy which will resonate with many.
We asked Anastasia about her 10-year experience in making the film, what first attracted her to the project, and more.
Check out our conversation below.
What was something you enjoyed the most about the script for Ben and Suzanne?
Anastasia Olowin (AO): We’ve shot three short films in the Ben and Suzanne “universe”, each one meeting them at a different point in their relationship before we get to the feature. The first short is called “Tourists”, and our writer/director Shaun Seneviratne suggested that these characters are almost tourists in each other’s lives – they’re two people who really care about each other at this moment in time, but might just be passing through. It’s not really a conventional rom-com where we’re watching people who are “meant to be,” and that has always felt really grounded and authentic to me.
What was it like first reading the script and then actually filming the movie?
AO: Well, in the ten years between shooting “Tourists” and “Ben and Suzanne…” Shaun actually wrote quite a few versions of the feature script – the scenario was always the same, but the nuances were constantly evolving as we (Shaun, my co-star Sathya Sridharan and myself) learned more about these characters and each other. So our shooting script ended up being mostly written and partially a very detailed outline with room for improvisation.
What has it been like seeing audiences’ reactions to the film after the recent festival dates?
AO: It’s been really, really lovely. You know, I’ve been attached to this project for ten years so it really would have been enough, for me, just to have made the film at all. So to have such a wonderful response to the film from festivals and audiences has been a special experience. We’ve had some sold-out screenings and a great time sharing the film with so many people. I’m just coming back from our international premiere at the Munich International Film Festival – we weren’t quite sure how it would play to a European audience but they really got the humor.
Is it fun to play characters that seem lost and are trying to figure things out?
AO: Absolutely! When you’re really grappling with something it feels activated; the stakes are higher. And I think there’s an honesty to it – we are constantly growing and adapting (whether in increments or miles), so it is fun to get to portray someone who is figuring it out in real time.
What is your favorite thing about being a storyteller?
AO: I love that I am constantly learning. Each project – each story – is an opportunity to discover something new, whether it’s about a place or a time period, or human behavior.
What is the best advice someone has ever given you about storytelling?
AO: I was in a theater ensemble for many years and my big takeaway was that you are not the only person in the picture. There’s the experience of your character and then there’s the larger arc of the story. I always try to step back and think about what is the larger story we are trying to tell, and how does my work serve that? Because film is a visual medium, that’s really how the story is being told. So how can we visually convey the story, and where is the audience’s attention needed in the scene? A lot of that is on the director and DP, but as an actor you can try to have an understanding of the whole and find ways to support that.
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Follow Anastasia Olowin: Instagram