"In Sri Lanka, when a girl gets her first period, her world changes forever..."

Rites of passage are an intriguing aspect of any culture. They can be empowering and celebratory, initiating the adolescent into mysteries of adulthood. But they also reveal important perceptions of adulthood within a given society. What are the codes of behaviour, the restrictions, the unspoken understandings that may now apply to the initiate?

In Sri Lanka, the arrival of a girl’s first period is a signal to her family that she is ready to become a "Big Girl": no longer a child, but a young adult, who must now carefully consider her conduct and her new place in society. To mark this passage there are a series of rituals that vary from place to place, and in the level of observance from family to family.

But what is the impact of these rituals on the individual? And how might this new understanding of their social roles and responsibilities effect the young girl’s ability to develop and express themselves freely?

"Big Girl" will be an exciting fusion of dramatic and hybrid documentary approaches: investigating the impact of these 'Coming of Age' or 'Big Girl' rituals in Sri Lanka. Narrative sections will interweave with interview material, collected from a variety of Sri Lankan female creative professionals. In the process, we hope to learn more about these creative women and their lives, but also, gain glimpses of the Sri Lanka of the recent past.

In order to achieve this, we are traveling to Sri Lanka, to work with local producers and crew. We will shoot our narrative components on location in order to capture the unique light and colour of Sri Lanka and spend time interviewing local creative women.

With an estimated finished running time of 65-70 minutes, we believe this project will speak to people interested in cultural studies and gender studies.  We are also making it as a testament to those Sri Lankan women who stand out in their creative fields and to celebrate their lives and lived experiences.