A movie worth watching

Reviving the case from the dusty court records, celebrated movie director Chandran Rutnam took on the task of bringing it to the screen. ‘According

to Matthew’ - the result of his research and observations was released last week and is now in theatres managed by the Ceylon Theatres circuit. After careful and thorough studying, Rutnam has placed the events in such a way that the audience will definitely be glued to the screen until the end. The story reveals how Father Matthew was seduced by Daphne’s attractiveness, inviting her to be his secretary to work on his manuscript ‘Tolerance of the Body and Mind’ which later becomes an important piece of evidence in the trial. Daphne and Randy were devotees at the Church who eventually became lodgers at the Vicarage. Daphne dedicated her time to finish Fr. Matthew’s manuscript but little did she know that he had other plans. Fr. Matthew was determined to put Randy ‘out of the scene’ and kept giving him anti-diabetic drugs and insulin until his death. Realising that he still had to get rid of his wife, he carefully convinces Eunice to take medication saying that she looked ill. His justification that he too was a man of desires did little to prove him innocent in the face of justice. The rest is for all suspense and horror movie fans to watch and analyse how a murder was planned in yesteryear.

Sri Lankan born singer, songwriter, film producer and actor Alston Koch who plays the role of Father Matthew has absorbed the character of a committed Pastor, reading verses off the Bible and acting calm in every instance. Dalrene Ingram’s character is substituted by that of Daphne Reynolds played by former Miss Sri Lanka Jacqueline Fernandez. The role of 60-year old Eunice Mendis is played by the young and talented stage drama actress Bimsara Premaratne, making her debut appearance in a movie.