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The Monk and the Gun film image

On the eve of the Kingdom of Bhutan’s momentous transition to democracy in 2006, a monk sets off on a mysterious quest for his master, while an American collector arrives in a small town searching for a rare, valuable artefact. Director Pawo Choyning Dorji’s debut film, the first Oscar-nominated Bhutanese film, Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom, was a heartwarming, tranquil vision of rural life in the Himalayas. The Monk and the Gun is equally attuned to seeking simple, profound truths; an entertaining tale about the conflict between tradition and progress and a gentle ensemble drama interwoven with an entertaining comedy of manners and socio-political commentary. The Monk and the Gun shows the intricate dynamics of Bhutan’s cultural bonds, and not only tells a great story with its cast of colourful characters, but speaks to the warmth at the heart of the country itself.

 

October 7 & 8: Q&A with director Pawo Choyning Dorji

 

Media Partner

Director
Cast

Tandin Wangchuk, Deki Lhamo, Pema Zangmo Sherpa, Tandin Sonam, Harry Einhorn

Credits
Country of Origin

Bhutan/France/USA/Taiwan

Year

2023

Language

In Dzongkha and English with English subtitles

18+
107 min
Comedy Drama

Book Tickets

Saturday October 07

3:15 pm
Guests/Q&As Hearing Assistance Subtitles
SFU Woodwards
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Sunday October 08

6:30 pm
Guests/Q&As Hearing Assistance Subtitles
Vancouver Playhouse
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Credits

Screenwriter

Pawo Choyning Dorji

Cinematography

Jigmé T. Tenzing

Editor

Hsiao-Yun Ku

Original Music

Frédéric Alvarez

Director

Pawo Choyning Dorji headshot

Pawo Choyning Dorji

Pawo Choyning Dorji is a writer, photographer, and filmmaker from the Kingdom of Bhutan. Pawo’s introduction to film came in 2012 when he worked as Khyentse Norbu’s assistant for Vara: a Blessing. In 2016 he produced Norbu’s critically acclaimed Bhutanese feature Hema Hema: Sing Me a Song While I Wait. The film had its world premiere at the 69th Festival del film Locarno. His directing debut Lunana: a Yak in the Classroom was nominated at the Academy Awards for Best International Feature in 2021, the first Bhutanese film to be so recognized.

Filmography: Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom (2021)

Showcase

See more films in this series:

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Green Border

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In her seventies Agnieszka Holland has made a ferocious, emotionally charged film about the brutal treatment of refugees arriving over the Polish land border from Belarus. This is a vehement denunciation of resurgent fascism and utterly compelling cinema.

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They Shot the Piano Player

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I Am Sirat

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I Am Sirat is a personal documentary about Sirat, a transwoman in India, who lives a dual life. While supported by a queer network of friends in Delhi, Sirat reverts to the closet at home as she’s forced to maintain a son’s familial and cultural responsibilities.

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Evil Does Not Exist
Evil Does Not Exist film image

Evil Does Not Exist

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The Delinquents

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In the heart of Buenos Aires, two bank clerks live a gray, mind-numbingly routine existence—that is, until one of them commits a crime that upends both their lives. Invigorating, precisely composed, and endlessly inventive.

SFU Woodwards

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Upon learning of her husband's year long affair, Juulia proposes an open marriage free of secrets. As a polyamory guide becomes their bible, Juulia falls in love with someone new, filling their journey in polyamory with love, compassion, and compromise.

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Just the Two of Us

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Close to You
Close to You film image

Close to You

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In his first feature film role since 2017, Elliot Page delivers a deeply felt and nuanced performance as a young man reuniting with his family for the first time since his transition, four years earlier.

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Tótem

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Do Not Expect Too Much From the End of the World

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SFU Woodwards The Cinematheque

The Monk and the Gun

Comedy Drama

On the eve of the Kingdom of Bhutan’s momentous transition to democracy in 2006, a monk sets off on a mysterious quest for his master, while an American collector arrives in a small town searching for a rare, valuable artefact.

SFU Woodwards Vancouver Playhouse