The Monk and the Gun (2023)
…………………………………………………
The Monk and the Gun Movie Review
The Monk and the Gun is a 2023 Bhutanese drama directed by Pawo Choyning Dorji. It’s a very interesting film that deals with a thought-provoking subject.
………………………………………………….
“I don’t know anything about these modern ways,
but we need to make things right“
…………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………..
An American travels to Bhutan in search of treasure and crosses paths with a young monk wandering the serene mountains and instructed by his teacher to make things right. This is the second feature film from writer-director Pawo Choyning Dorji, who previously directed ‘Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom’. That Oscar-nominated movie was more charming and a bit stronger than this one, but this film is still a strong sophomore effort in its own right.
The main theme here is modernity versus tradition and how democracy and technology ultimately will affect these smaller, more traditional nations irrevocably. The film doesn’t make a clear statement, making it perfect for an open discussion as it invites viewers to make up their own mind about this issue. But it clearly presents that bringing democracy and technology to Bhutan was a scary prospect and also a complicated proceeding due to the rural and more religious residents’ resistance to comply to these new ideas.
The Monk and the Gun is at its best when it’s dealing with these complex issues, but it is at its worst when it’s dealing with other characters and subplots that didn’t quite work, especially the titular gun one. That entire subplot made sense and was well realized, but it just wasn’t as engaging as the overall election narrative.
…………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………..
The movie did not quite develop its characters properly and it wasn’t as charming as the director’s previous feature that was more fun and definitely more emotionally moving. But the film succeeds in strong, grounded dialogue and fantastic cinematography that made perfect use of Bhutan’s incredible natural landscapes that were just gorgeous to behold, especially the stunning pink rhododendrons.
The Monk and the Gun is a strong Bhutanese drama dealing with the country’s transition from a traditional into modern society through the inevitable introduction of democracy and technology for better and for worse. Not all of its subplots work and I preferred the director’s previous feature, but this is a terrific sophomore film that benefits from excellent dialogue and gorgeous scenery throughout.
My Rating – 4
Results
