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Lunana A Yak in the Classroom filmmaker Pawo Choyning Dorji has crafted another unforgettable cinematic experience with The Monk and the Gun. Now playing in theaters, centers on Bhutan’s transition to a democracy. A mock election and the hunt for a priceless gun are among the subplots in this engaging and well crafted satire. We review The Monk and The Gun on episode 228 of CinemAddicts. Check out our podcast and video version of the review in our post!
A reflective lama (Kelsang Choejey) tasks his younger colleague, a monk named Tashi (Tandin Wangchuck) to bring him two guns for some unspecificed reason. Tshering (Pema Zangmo Sherpa) is a determined election official focused on ensuring the villagers in a remote area learn how to effectively vote, as she believes modernizing Bhutan is a sign of prograss.
One of the villagers is Tshomo (Deki Lhamo), a villager who sees her family torn apart by the upcoming mock election. Her husband Choephel (Choeying Jatsho) is endorsing an opposing party, and that friction leads to the bulling of their daughter Yuphel (Yuphel Lhendup Selden).
Writer/director Pawo Choyning Dorji seamlessly blends these stories into a refreshingly unexpected third act. Dorji’s use of non-actors, which worked so well in Lunana A Yak in the Classroom, continues to succeed with The Monk and The Gun. There is no false note amidst the ensemble, and the narrative immediately pulled me into their world.
Another strongly conceived subplot deals with an American named Ron (Harry Einhorn) who comes to Bhutan searching for a priceless rifle. With the help of his driver/interpreter (Tandin Sonam), Ron may have a life changing experience.
Check out our review of The Monk and the Gun on CinemAddicts:
The Monk and the Gun is now playing in theaters.
Check out my interview with The Monk and the Gun director Pawo Choyning Dorji:
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