Suncatcher

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In 1964 Ceylon, Kairo finds himself adrift amid societal upheaval. With school closed and the government in turmoil, he retreats into his room, escaping into second-hand Westerns and superhero comics. His mother copes with stress through cha-cha-cha classes, while his Trotskyite father grumbles about the nation’s decline, secretly betting on horse races in England. Everything changes when Kairo meets the charismatic Jay, a budding naturalist and rebel who captivates him. Jay, indifferent to adult authority, is building an aviary in his grand home, trapping birds and keeping fish. His complicated family dynamics include a contemptuous view of his beautiful mother and a wealthy, angry father, yet his suave Uncle Elvin encourages him. As Jay introduces Kairo to a world of hunting guns, fast cars, and a girl named Niromi, Kairo begins to grasp the complexities of privilege and the consequences of their actions. This taut and luminous narrative explores difficult friendships and sudden awakenings, poignantly capturing the loss of innocence and the search for love or solace, intertwining the lives of its characters with our own.