Change Season: Screening – The Truth That Wasn’t There

The Truth that Wasn’t There offers an unprecedented view into the aftermath of the civil war in Sri Lanka that ended in 2009.

Filmed by three novice students shortly after the conflict ended, the film explores not just the gap between propaganda and truth, but the frightening responsibility of war reportage for these young, inexperienced filmmakers.

Given unparallelled access to victims of the war’s atrocities and the infamous camps for the internally displaced, the three young journalists struggle to keep afloat in the mix of lies, brutality, and an onslaught of previously unknown information. 

By examining both the facts of the war and the weight of the burden of reporting it, The Truth that Wasn’t There raises important questions about journalistic integrity and responsibility.

In exploring what happens when young and inexperienced journalists and filmmakers are thrown into the deep end of an internationally important story, the film touches the heart of debates about documentary, objectivism, information, and reportage.