![[poster with a small figure of a monk in maroon and gold robes, standing in a field of magenta flowers, looking at a distant mountain range with bright blue, lightly clouded sky overhead, holding a rifle over his left shoulder, with small white type at the top and bottom of the poster and large white stacked words the-monk-and the-gun in the sky]](https://buddhistfilmfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/news-the-monk-and-the-gun-poster.jpg)
For the second time, Bhutan has submitted a new film by Pawo Choyning Dorji for consideration by the Academy Awards® for Best International Feature. His previous film, Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom gained the historic first Oscar® nomination for Bhutan at the 2022 Academy Awards.
The Monk and the Gun, an International Buddhist Film Festival 2023 Official Selection, had its World Premiere at the prestigious Telluride Film Festival and went on to its International Premiere at Toronto International Film Festival, and selection at Woodstock Film Festival and Busan International Film Festival.
Set in 2006 just as the King of Bhutan has decided to transition the nation to a democracy, the film bemusedly follows the efforts of young government officials to teach rural villagers about elections, voting, and democracy. Two conflicting efforts (with very different goals) to secure an antique gun, drive the narrative forward until all elements converge at a full moon ceremony led by an elderly lama, the teacher of the monk of the title.
Working with mostly nonprofessionals again, as well as with talented cinematographer Jigme Tenzing (who lensed Lunana…), Dorji captures a remote nation and a culture at the very beginning of its historic entry into democracy, and manages to poke some fun at American politics along the way. This is a polished and confident sophomore feature, with perhaps an even broader appeal than his first.
Written and directed by Dorji, the film was produced by him with Stephanie Lai, Jean-Christophe Simon, and Feng Hsu, with Lisa Henson, William Horberg, Kris Eiamsakulrat, Janee Pennington, and Zhang Xin serving as executive producers. It has been released theatrically in Bhutan and will enjoy a U.S. release through Roadside Attractions early next year.
