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DramaRomance Bangkok 2005 · Best Feature Editor's Pick

The Forsaken Land Review (2005) — 70% Celluloid Score

Directed by Vimukthi Jayasundara · 2005 ·

Short answer

Is The Forsaken Land worth watching?

Yes. The Forsaken Land (2005) earns a 70% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics (80%) were notably more enthusiastic than audiences (70%). See the 4 inputs.

70%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

80% Editorial Rating
70% Audience snapshot · excluded
68 Metascore
★★★☆☆ Letterboxd 3.4
6.5 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
1h 48m
Cast
Kaushalaya Fernando , Nilupili Jayawardena , Hemasiri Liyanage , Saumya Liyanage , Pumudika Sapurni Peiris , Mahendra Perera
Country
Sri Lanka
Language
Sinhala

Also known as සුළඟ එනු පිණිස La Terre abandonnée 버려진 땅

Where to watch

We do not have a confirmed subscription streaming listing. Check services in your country; rental, purchase and cinema options may differ.

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is positive (80/100).
  • General viewers mostly liked it (70%).
  • Metascore is generally favorable (68/100).
  • Celluloid Score 70% combines 4 rating inputs; audience sentiment is shown separately. Consult the source notes for verification dates where recorded.

Best for

  • Short runtime — easy weeknight watch
  • Critics' darlings — stronger with reviewers than general viewers

Not ideal for

  • Viewers who only watch top-tier, 90%+ rated films

Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

Is The Forsaken Land worth watching?

Yes — The Forsaken Land earns a 70% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits short runtime — easy weeknight watch, but viewers who only watch top-tier, 90%+ rated films may want to skip it. Read our full review (3.5/5).

Celluloid verdict

Vimukthi Jayasundara’s Sri Lankan civil-war landscape film won Best Feature at Bangkok 2005 after Cannes Un Certain Regard — austere and haunting.

, Founder & Editor

Critics (80%) were notably more enthusiastic than audiences (70%).

What is The Forsaken Land about?

A home-guard serviceman assigned the task of standing watch over a barren no-man's-land begins to experience an existential crisis after years of lonely service.

Watch the Trailer

Critic Reviews

Short review 4 min read English The Forsaken Land

The Forsaken Land (2005) Review: War Without Battles

The Forsaken Land is Vimukthi Jayasundara's austere Sri Lankan drama about a home guard on a barren frontier, a haunting portrait of lives stalled by war.

Yes, with reservations. It is a haunting, visually striking study of a country suspended by war, best for patient viewers of slow art cinema rather than casual audiences.

Kaiser Khan Founder & Editor

Reader takes

No reader takes published yet. Send yours and we may publish it after editing.

The Forsaken Land: frequently asked questions

Is The Forsaken Land worth watching?

Yes. The Forsaken Land (2005) has a Celluloid Score of 70%, averaged from the available Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb ratings. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Audience sentiment is shown separately and does not change the score.

How long is The Forsaken Land?

The Forsaken Land runs 1 hour 48 minutes (108 minutes).

Who stars in The Forsaken Land?

The Forsaken Land is directed by Vimukthi Jayasundara and stars Kaushalaya Fernando, Nilupili Jayawardena, Hemasiri Liyanage, Saumya Liyanage, Pumudika Sapurni Peiris.

What is the Metascore for The Forsaken Land?

Metacritic's Metascore for The Forsaken Land is 68 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

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