The Monk and the Gun

As Bhutan undergoes the transition to democracy, an American arms dealer is searching for an antique rifle. Meanwhile, a young monk is journeying through the beautiful landscape.

The transition to democracy is not a seamless process. Despite the king stepping down and ushering in a new democratic era through a referendum, not everyone embraces the shift with equal enthusiasm. To make a point, director Dorji adds a satirical twist by linking the story to another country quite high on the democracy index. The film elegantly satirizes the evils associated with Western influence while highlighting the dangers of an uninformed society.

The evils of Western influence are humorously satirized, while the dangers of an uneducated society are challenged. It becomes a gripping story about one of the major transitions in the country’s history. It gets truly amusing when several characters struggle with the complexities of shifting from one form of governance to another, all while feeling uncertain about whether the new system is actually better than the old.

Rarely has the contrast between the modern and the traditional had a more pleasant backdrop. Even with stunning natural imagery, it is the warm and humorous approach to democracy’s many advantages, and some pitfalls, that makes this story something truly special.

Filmweb

Director

Pawo Choyning Dorji (b. 1984) is primarily known as a photographer. Photos from the photobook Seeing Sacred: Lights & Shadows Along the Path have been published in a number of media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal. Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom was Dorji’s directorial debut. The Monk and the Gun is his second feature film as a director.

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