Writer/director Shaun Seneviratne’s feature film debut, Ben and Suzanne, A Reunion in 4 Parts, recently hit SXSW and may be heading to a theater or streamer near you soon. The romantic comedy tracks one couple coming to terms with the emotional shifts in their ever-evolving relationship. It’s a touching outing, but in talking to Seneviratne, the filmmaker admits to drawing inspiration for the project from the most curious places. We get how There’s Something About Mary could spark ideas for a romantic comedy. And director Éric Rohmer’s wonderful 1986 romp, The Green Ray, too. But The Shining?

“Ben and Suzanne… is not a horror movie,” Seneviratne notes, chuckling, “but I think there’s so much tone in The Shining that feels true to this, which is the effects of isolation and how that can make us feel. And how isolation can drive us crazy in many different ways. You could get driven crazy like Jack Torrance in The Shining or like Ben at the hotel in Sri Lanka [in this film]. Stanley Kubrick does some really interesting things with objectivity. The way he’ll frame things in these master shots that don’t really get personal, and we’re just kind of watching and moving along with things, I think, was really amazing.”

In this exclusive MovieWeb interview, Shaun Seneviratne joins stars Sathya Sridharan and Anastasia Olowin and producer Doron JéPaul Mitchell to discuss how the film evolved, making its way into the SXSW ’24 Narrative Feature Competition, and some of their other inspirations, like Samuel L. Jackson, Brendan Fraser and Danielle Brooks (The Color Purple). Dive in.

Finding a Place at SXSW

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Ben and Suzanne, A Reunion in 4 Parts is filmmaker Shaun Seneviratne’s follow-up to another creative project, his three-part Tourists Cycle. Pulling from his own real-life experiences, the story tracks Ben Santhanaraj as he journeys to Sri Lanka to rekindle his relationship with Suzanne Hopper, an American NGO worker. The couple had been separated for some time, and the trip was a great way to rekindle their romantic connection.

Or so they think. Suzanne’s work suddenly becomes an issue during the couple’s “vacation,” and their love is tested by a dilemma: desire versus duty. Suzanne struggles with job responsibilities, and Ben tries everything to revive their bond. All of this leads to a candid New Year’s Eve conversation that may change everything for the couple.

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Producer Doron JéPaul Mitchell calls Ben and Suzanne “unique” and cheers independent films. As head of Thermostat Media, his projects focus on innovative, faith-centered, and thought-provoking stories for film, TV, and theater. Ben and Suzanne fits that bill, and the filmmakers worked diligently to get the movie made and find a home for it. “It’s a great story,” Mitchell added. “We can wait for the industry to give us a yes, or we can say, ‘We value this story, and we believe in the story, and SXSW can come along for the ride in many ways, creating more opportunities.’”

From The Whale and Succession to Ben and Suzanne

Audiences may recall Sathya Sridharan in several Succession episodes or last year’s The Whale—he played Dan the Pizza Man. He says he was inspired working alongside Brendan Fraser, noting:

“I was in and out in one day, but it’s a pivotal part of the story. And what I got from that is you can be number one on the call sheet and kindness goes a long way. Brendan Fraser and I didn’t talk much at all, but you could tell he emitted a kind of warmth, generosity, and patience. He was in a prosthetic that was 200 pounds and took however many hours to put on and take off, and he had the sort of wherewithal to give me a reassuring note, like, ‘Hey, you’re doing a great job,’ in the midst of a pretty flashy production. And I think that goes a long way. We sort of get caught up in, ‘I’m number one on the call sheet,’ or ‘I’m this name and I’m focusing on my craft.’ But all the work of the entire film raises when we’re kind to each other, when we’re able to be generous scene partners, when we’re able to acknowledge the PA grabbing a water bottle and see them as a human being.”

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He went on to say he was inspired by Shaun Seneviratne’s script and how it holds a unique place in cinema:

“Independent cinema is where it’s at. Specific, nuanced storytelling done from a real sense of urgency, from a sense of, ‘I need to tell this story,’ it requires so much work and persistence and faith. And it does require someone to be vulnerable and share themselves and be willing to fail. And that’s where all great art comes from—saying, ‘I’m going to put my neck on the line here, and I’m going to put my sh** out, and hopefully it resonates with somebody.'”

He shared that the director always had “that kind of vision in his brain” and always led with that kind of energy. “He likes to call himself punk, like he has a real punk sensibility. And I think that’s true,” he added.

On Location and the Wisdom of Samuel L. Jackson

Filming on location in Sri Lanka held its inherent challenges, especially on a modest budget. For Anastasia Olowin, it was an incredible way to see Sri Lanka and cap a remarkable era working alongside costar Sathya Sridharan. The two starred in Shaun Seneviratne’s short Tourists, playing the same characters.

“It was great to have the opportunity after spending 10 years working together, Olowin said of her costar. “Working with Sathya was wonderful. Since Tourists, we’ve built a friendship, a collaboration, and have supported each other’s work in various capacities. We went into filming this feature with a real sense of trust between us and a real sense of safety. And we were the only two actors who came over to Sri Lanka from the States.”

Producer Doron JéPaul Mitchell, who has previously worked with Samuel L. Jackson (The Hitman’s Bodyguard, Avengers), Danielle Brooks (The Color Purple), and John David Washington (The Creator) in August Wilson’s riveting play The Piano Lesson, says filmmaking and theater are “a family affair in many ways.” But he’s quick to praise his former coworkers.

“I’ve known Danielle for years,” he continued. “She went to Juilliard years before I was at NYU. I had known LaTonya, Sam’s wife, from doing To Kill a Mockingbird [on stage], and that engraced us together. Sam always has a sense of play. Sam is the kind of guy who, having spent as much time with him as I have now, has shown me the value of staying focused on what you’re doing and having fun doing that.

“Sam’s whole career… his testimony is always remembering the PAs,” he added. “He always remembered the grip because when you blink, it’s the grip that becomes the executive producer at Warner Bros. And that’s his whole story. So, for me, I’ve had an opportunity to soak in really incredible creatives who all have strong faith values—people who care more about being a good human being more than they care about being a celebrity. And when you do projects with people at a level, their talent is so infectious.” So is the allure of Ben and Suzanne, A Reunion in 4 Parts, which just landed at SXSW. Watch this space for further updates.