Mother Tongue

Motivated by things that are very tasty, Bhagya and Carl are travelling to the motherland of Sri Lanka to visit forest gardens, coconut mills, rice paddies, and Aachi’s house. We will also eat: leaning into the warm embrace of our home cuisine and learning some aunties’ secrets along the way.

In Sri Lanka they say “never arrive with your arms hanging,” an ode to the importance of reciprocity. So we will share what we find: not just a story but food to be proud of, produced with love for people and in concert with the island's rich biodiversity.

On Thursday nights we make family style Sri Lankan food at cooperative cafe Yours. We use local vegetables but our coconut, rice and spices have to come from far away. With this project we will visit the sources of our ingredients, discover new flavours, and forge relationships with the people who produce food for us.

We’re making this film on a shoestring budget with a 2 person crew. We have the gear, and Carl already has his flights. We just need a bit of dough to get Bhagya on a plane and for a few technical bits and bobs. That being said, the more money we raise, the more flavour we can bring back for you and the more we can support the producers of Sri Lanka.

Sharing is what we want: of kai, knowledge, understanding and resources. As diaspora kids, straddling worlds, we stay true to both parts of ourselves by bringing those worlds closer.