Lunana (Movie Review)
After completing five years of training to become a teacher, Ugyen (Sherab Dorji) is sent by the Bhutanese government to teach in a remote mountain village. He resists, but he must accept and take up the post.
Director Pawo Choyning Dorji shot the film largely in Lunana, a tiny, yak-herding village high in the mountains of Bhutan. The movie is a heartwarming tale of one man’s transformation.
1. Set the Scene
Ugyen Dorji (Sherab Dorji) is a young man who dreams of becoming a singer, but instead of pursuing this dream he is assigned to teach in the remotest village in Bhutan. He is appalled at the idea, but as soon as he reaches the village, he realizes that he has been misunderstood and that he is not alone.
Despite Bhutan’s emphasis on Gross Domestic Happiness, many of its youth yearn to travel abroad to experience the Western world and pursue their dreams. This is the theme of Dorji’s film, which is a crowdpleaser, but it is more than a simple celebration of Gross National Happiness; it is also a celebration of the importance of teaching and how teachers are able to guide their students to a better future.
In this way, Dorji captures the universal human search for belonging and happiness. He also captures the beauty of a traditional Bhutanese lifestyle that is thriving in this remote valley in the Himalayas.
This cinematic setting is so incredibly beautiful that it is hard to believe the filmmakers were actually able to film in this location, but it’s true that they did! The director, Dorji, took his cast and crew to the actual village of Lunana and set up the classroom there.
The film is shot in wide angles and features stunning visuals to showcase the incredible scenery of this pristine Himalayan valley. It also features a lot of beautiful shots of the yak herders and their yaks that are a huge part of the culture of this beautiful country.
Another great thing about the film is the way the director has used music to bring out the story. There are songs sung by the villagers and a few of them even sing to Ugyen, which is a wonderful way to get his attention.
It’s also a good way to get your students involved in the film. The kids will want to sing the song with Ugyen, and they’ll be interested in learning a traditional song from a local. This will help them understand the importance of the yak and their relationship with it, as well as the cultural values of the village. It’s a beautiful and memorable way to engage your students in the film.
2. Explain the Situation
A disillusioned teacher with an ambition to move to Australia is sent to the most remote school in Bhutan, accessible only by horse and foot. It’s an experience that makes Ugyen (Sherab Dorji) re-think his plans for a career in music and a sense of purpose.
As a city teacher, Ugyen has become disconnected from the world around him, tuned in to his headphones and disinterested in the lives of his students. But while teaching in Lunana, he finds an unexpected connection with the villagers, who touch his heart through genuine acts of kindness.
The film is a heart-warming drama, which shows that people are always searching for their place in the world. Unlike other movies, it is not an overly complex story, and it focuses on the simplest things in life. It also helps us to understand a culture that is very different from our own.
While the movie is not perfect, it is worth watching at least once. It shows the beauty of a culture that is very different from ours and it teaches us to be more sensitive to other cultures. It also shows that it is important to try and make more films like this so that the world can learn about other people and cultures that may be different from ours.
It is an extremely interesting film that shows the world that even people in remote areas can have dreams and goals in life. It also teaches us that it is important to follow our heart and not what other people tell us we should do.
Although the film is a bit slow and the plot seems to take some time to develop, it is still a well made film that will leave you inspired. It is a movie that will make you feel good, and it is a great way to show your friends or family how important education is.
This film is a great example of how a small country can make an impact on the world. This is especially true for the people in this country. They are a very hard working and deserving of the attention that they get.
3. Ask Questions
The newest entry into the Oscar-nominated film pack is simple in structure, sincere in approach and soothing in quality. No grand gestures or revelations are packed in here, merely a quiet reflection on what it means to be a teacher and how the simplest events can profoundly affect our lives.
In this Bhutanese drama, young teacher Ugyen (Sherab Dorji) is a discontented dreamer sent to the most remote school in the world to complete his teacher's license. The school is 5000 meters above sea level and the village is home to only 50 people. It is a harsh environment with little to no electricity and Wi-Fi, and during the winter the temperatures drop below zero degrees.
To make matters worse, Ugyen's attitude is not exactly appropriate. He's a bit of a dissipated soul who listens to music on his headphones as long as his connectivity holds out. But the singing around the campfire of his two guides, Michen and Singye (Ugyen Norbu Lhendup and Tshering Dorji), ignites a spark for the aspiring musician.
As the movie progresses, Ugyen starts to appreciate the value of his job and yak dung. He also begins to understand the broader value of teaching, which is an essential component of community life in Bhutan.
Despite its modesty, the movie succeeds in delivering a heartfelt dramatization of Gen Z finding their place in the highlands. It also serves as a propagandistic validation of Bhutan's "happiest country in the world" epithet, as the mountains are presented in as breathtakingly picturesque a manner as possible.
What is more, the film’s core message of a simple life where people help others and educators are worthy of honor and respect, resonates more strongly in this COVID era than ever before. It’s a reminder that we need to be more sensitive to our surroundings and our fellow humans in order to live happier, healthier and fuller lives.
The film’s themes are clear, and the characters are well-drawn. But the story is not as uplifting as it could have been because of its lack of conflict or complexity. It is a simple story that is more suited to adults than children. However, parents can still share with their kids some of the key values it teaches, including respect, generosity, sacrifice, persistence and contentment.
4. Ask Students to Participate
In an age of glitz and glamour, it can be easy to overlook the value of simple living. It's a message that resonates throughout Lunana, a sweetly charming film about a teacher's journey towards a sense of happiness.
The story follows a reluctant teacher, Ugyen (Sherab Dorji) who is sent to Lunana, a tiny Himalayan village where he finds himself living in an off-grid community without electricity or Wi-Fi. As he reluctance mounts to leave, the villagers treat him with respect he has never experienced before. The chief, Asha (Kunzang Wangdi), tells him that he is an important member of the community.
As Ugyen adjusts to the unspoiled setting, he discovers that the village is deeply dedicated to the Gross National Happiness (GNH) principle of promoting a happy, harmonious society by cultivating peace and kindness. They're also committed to their yaks, which provide milk and meat as well as fuel for heat. The villagers often sit side-by-side with their yaks in the mountains, singing to honor them as their wish-fulfilling jewels.
Saldon, a yak herder and teacher in the village, also teaches Ugyen a song that celebrates the sacred bond between herders and their yaks. She gifts him with a yak named Norbu, whose name means "wish-fulfilling jewel." The yak becomes a fixture in the classroom, and a beloved pet, as the teachers and students all become friends.
Music is a vital part of life in Lunana, and Ugyen is inspired by Saldon to begin to play the guitar. He soon begins to teach his class how to sing a traditional folk song.
After a few days, Ugyen is ready to return home, but the villagers convince him to stay and teach another class. They have a soft spot for him, and the community's deep appreciation for teachers is evident in their quiet gratitude to him.
While the movie's core messages may be ephemeral, the simple and loving manner in which the filmmakers capture the story and the character development makes for an enchanting experience that won the hearts of many and garnered an Oscar nomination last week. It's a reminder of the importance of values such as generosity, sacrifice, persistence and contentment.
