Colombo, Sri Lanka, in 1974. Arjie, the second son of an upper-class family, enjoys playing weddings more than cricket. Supported by his free-spirited aunt Radha, he begins to learn musicals and Radha, who has to leave for Canada for an arranged marriage, finds new love. With Radha′s marriage, Arjie′s childhood comes to an end, and he gets caught up in the whirlwind of the Sri Lankan Civil War with no time to enjoy the sweetness of his first love. Funny Boy is an exploration of the South Asian history and its intrusion on an individual′s life, and a meticulous commentary on love that breaks down boundaries, which have been topics of constant interest for director Deepa Mehta. The red scarf that Radha wraps around Arjie as he stands in sandals at a Canadian airport is a warm consolation to all Arjies in the world who have shattered or will shatter the traditions and customs in their lives. (PARK Sun Young)