Displaying items by tag: The Monk and the Gun movie

THE MONK AND THE GUN

Bhutan, 2024, 107 minutes, Colour.

Tandin Wamgchuk, Tandin Phubz, Kelsan Choejay, Tandin Sonam, Deki Lhamo, Harry Einhorn.

Directed by Pawo Choyning Dorji.

Setting is Bhutan, 2006, on the eve of an election. The film was nominated for an Oscar by Bhutan and reached the short list.

There are several strands of plot, the government is wanting the election to be a success and having rehearsals in villages so that the inhabitants learn how to vote. While this are serious repercussions, there are various comic elements in the holding of the rehearsal elections, loyalties, candidates, promises, family differences…

In the meantime, the monk at his shrine is wanting to build a monument and is anxious to have a gun from the American Civil War, ordering his servant to find it and bring it to him.

In the meantime, an American gun collector is also searching for the 19^th century gun, hiring a guide, finding the gun in possession of an old man, the old man changing his mind, the monk’s servant also pursuing and getting possession of the gun. There are also bargains to find other guns as payment for the antique gun. And the police also are suspicious of the American and what he is doing and the issue of guns.

Ultimately, it all comes together with the monk wanting to bury the Civil War gun in the base of his monument, a symbol of peace. And, the American, saved from the police, and his substitute guns presented also as a gift.

Serious, important themes, a perspective on Bhutan, and some wry humour as well.

1. A film from Bhutan? Atmosphere, locations, the people, history? 21^st century? Democracy?
2. The location photography, the beauty of the countryside, the fields and crops, the town, homes, the Buddhist shrine, the gatherings for the mock election, the coming of television, communications? The musical score?
3. The introduction of three storylines? The monk, in meditation, his servant, the radio, information about the election, his asking him to get three guns, audience presupposition about the use, violent, his comments about freedom in society, assumptions that he was against the elections? The focus on Benji, at home, his wife and dialysis, his leaving for several days? The focus on the family, the husband and his political support, his wife and the pressure from her mother, their daughter at school?
4. The bringing of the three stories together, four days until full moon? The travels of the supervisor to the country town, her attitudes, democracy important, her assistant, their plans? The servant and his search for the gun? Benji and the American, the search for the Civil War gun? The intersections of the three stories?
5. The servant and his robes, walking the countryside, going to the old man, the explanation about the gun, the old man giving the gun as a tribute to the Lama? The servant in town, hearing about the election, not knowing about it, watching the television, James Bond and 007? In the countryside, Benji and Harry, the discussion about the gun, their promise of two guns, giving the gun to the Lama, the promise of the two guns?
6. Harry, tour guide, with Harry, the quest for the gun, the travel, meeting the old man, the courtesy, the bargain, the history in the Civil War, money issues? The promise? The old man, the next day, the servant, giving the gun for the Lama? Their chasing the servant, the discussion, bargaining, going to the night club, the contacts, the rendezvous, collecting the guns? The police, the phone call to Benji’s wife, her contacting him? The arrival in the town, the ceremony, the police, the giving of the guns? Seeing the Civil War gun buried as tribute? Harry persuaded to throw in the Kalashnikovs? The speech of the Lama, advice about peace, Harry participating, and the humour of his being presented with the giant phallus?
7. The family, the father and his campaigning, the daughter wanting the eraser, her father forgetting, criticised at school? The wife, asked to assist with the mock election? Meeting the representative, the discussions? The little girl and the eraser, the drawing, the gifts?
8. The explanation of the mock election, the three colours and what they stood for, rounding up the people, registering them, reluctance, the actual election, the colours, the vote for the king and the preservation of the past? The representative, her disappointment, being invited to the ceremony by the Lama?
9. Democracy in Bhutan, the king, benign, resigning, wanting elections and democracy, the people and their traditions, the range of opinions expressed throughout the dialogue, people happy, content with what they had, the possibilities of political infighting, threats to their way of life…?
10. The happy finale, the ceremony, Harry and his phallus, the burying of the guns, the spiritual meaning of this? And the final information about the actual elections?