The Monk and the Gun

The King abdicates his throne, and the election officials usher the clueless community members of the village of Ura into the age of democracy with a mock election. The story unravels with a family caught up in the new shift, a monk in search of a gun for his Master before the full moon, and an American antique gun collector with his young guide.

The movie features a wide array of Bhutanese artists, talents, and creative individuals on various levels and capacities along with the finest production a Bhutanese movie has ever seen. The cast includes seasoned Bhutanese actors, new faces, and local individuals who are either playing the characters they are or have transformed into a completely different characters. With Bhutanese music in the background, the beautiful valley of Ura, a number of cameos from unexpected stars, and centered around Bhutan's innocent ignorance of the past, we learn so much about Bhutan.

All I can say is, once in a generation, a genius person, like Director Pawo Choying shows up on the planet, and offers another treat to movie goers.

Why do supposedly great films need to be always sad, heavy and you leave the hall rather not so happy. Pawo's movie "The Monk And The Gun" is not that kind of movie. It is a feel-good one that is for everyone and relevant across all language and cultures. A good dose of suspense, comedy, satire based on a factual story. One must have accumulated good 'Karma' to be able to watch it. The world would be a much better place if most people view this movie. You will do yourself a big favor by watching this movie just as how I felt when I saw it at the Palm Springs film fest. Enjoy!

This lovely film depicts Bhutans transition to democracy through portrayals of villagers living peacefully in the remote hills within a humorous story of a visiting American trying to do a business deal with people for whom money is all but meaningless. Gorgeous scenery and terrific performances from a mainly unprofessional cast of locals.the director captures his love of his native country, the only one with a Gross Happiness Index. He greatly respects the simplicity of the villagers life while showing that democracy isn't a given, it must be taught and given meaning to a country whose life under a revered King has been at peace and harmony for centuries.

I really don't know how to critique a movie or anything so I'll just say what I felt. When I saw the title of the movie, the first thing in my head was why is a monk and a gun together? And the reveal as I watched the movie and how everything came together was a beautiful symbolic representation and perspective to everything in our lives I'd say. The movie was set around the time democracy was introduced in Bhutan and I was just a kid that time so I remember not understanding much about it and didn't realise that our country was changing. Seeing the movie gave me a glimpse of how it went down and it was so fun to watch. Lastly Tandin Sonam I love you no homo, your character was my favourite.

I went and watched the film in the cinema, and I honestly believe that the film is amazing. With gorgeous scenery, a great story, relatable characters, and amazing acting by the cast, the movie is a true treat that has to be seen in the theatre. The one feature that stands above all is the cinematography by the director.

The cinematography is simply peak cinema, with not a single wasted movement; the movie does it's role of keeping the audience in their seats very well. The cast is distributed throughout the story without too much focus on one character (why do it when the story is of this caliber); something that we do not see in many films today.

The characters are well fleshed out, and the symbolism is quite interesting (although I don't think I got 100% of the allusions). The satire and comedic beats do not miss - again without over exaggeration - the comedy is well timed, generating a response from me and the other viewers at the cinema.

The best thing about the movie is the cinematography, and to see how well-directed it is, an experience at the cinema is not one to miss.