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Poor Ugyen. A twenty-something man living in Thimphu, he yearns to move to Australia and pursue his dream of singing. But first he must finish a year of government-sponsored teaching in the most remote part of the country.
Considered to be “the happiest country in the world”, Bhutan can feel like being trapped in paradise to its residents, and Ugyen fits that to a T. An urbanite forced to teach rural kids, he’s frustrated and bored, stuck in a village that is a good week’s walk from any town. But the childrens’ joy is infectious, and soon the gorgeous landscape, the slowly changing seasons, and the heartfelt traditions begin to make Ugyen realize that perhaps he’s not trapped, but blessed to be in such a loving place. Visually striking, Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom is a delightful first feature from Pawo Choyning Dorji.
Director Biography
Pawo Choyning Dorji is a photographer from Bhutan. He has published two books of photography and has been working for the Khyentse Labrang, a foundation dedicated to preserving “Buddhism as a living tradition”. Lunana is his first feature.
Press
"With its stunning images, feel-good characters, charming actors and a good pinch of Buddhist karma and critique of Western restlessness, “Lunana: a Yak in the Classroom” has all the ingredients of a crowd-pleaser" - Asian Movie Pulse
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