To plenty of countries around the globe, democracy has become so ubiquitous that we forget it’s relatively new, at least relative to the rest of human history. Bhutan is one of the last countries that became a democracy, and writer-director Pawo Choyning Dorji chose to depict a slice of how they made the shift in The Monk and the Gun. As Tashi sets out to obtain two weapons for his mentor, and Ron seeks a specific antique gun, Dorji presents slice-of-life moments of the beautiful Bhutan countryside, intercut with the subtle ways tradition still persists amidst modernity, and the funny ways change can clash with culture. It’s no wonder The Monk and the Gun was chosen as the Bhutanese entry for the Best International Feature at the 96th Academy Awards.
Synopsis
An American travels to Bhutan searching for a valuable antique rifle and crosses paths with a young monk who wanders through the serene mountains, instructed by his teacher to make things right again.
Storyline
Kingdom of Bhutan, 2006. Hoping to modernize, the kingdom makes a shift to democracy. In the small mountain valley town of Ura, young monk Tashi is instructed by his lama to prepare a ceremony for election day, while American antique collector Ron Coleman searches for a valuable antique rifle.
TLDR
Brilliant.
What stands out
The ending. The entire film, we wondered what the titular gun would be used for, all wondering why it’s needed for the election day, but the ending was so unexpected, yet rightfully earned.
It’s a rather romantic view of Bhutan with its enforced dress code and their treatment of the Lohtsampa.It may have moved from Monarchy to Constitutional Monarchy but it remains pretty much a monocultural theocratic state.
A glorious watch. Never has symbolism given rise to such emotion for me – and unlike many movies of today, this one does not have a single superfluous scene to spoil the enjoyment. An earnest, sincere and clever plot driven by a believable cast of memorable characters with relatable traits, in a hidden gem of a culture that should understandably stay that way. Loved it.