The Monk and The Gun captures the wonder and disruption as Bhutan becomes one of the world’s youngest democracies. Known throughout the world for its extraordinary beauty and its emphasis on Gross National Happiness, the remote Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan was the last nation to connect to the internet and television. And if that weren’t enough change, the King announced shortly afterwards that he would cede his power to the people via their vote and a new form of government – Democracy.
An elderly lama (Kelsang Choejey), recognizing that extraordinary change is about to sweep through his country, is troubled by the possible outcomes. He instructs his young disciple Tashi (Tandin Wangchuk) to set forth into the kingdom and bring him two guns before the full moon to “set it right.” The young monk is perplexed by his guru’s request, and his familiarity with guns is based solely on images from the only film available on television: James Bond. His quest brings him into contact with a scheming American gun collector Ron (Harry Einhorn), leading to a most unexpected outcome.
The film is the second effort from writer/director Pawo Choyning Dorji, following his first film, 2021’s Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom, which was the first Bhutanese film ever nominated for an Oscar (as Best International Feature). The Monk and the Gun made the shortlist of 15 films for the Best International Film Oscar but not the final cut. A devout Buddhist, Dorji’s films are marked by gentleness, wit and compassion for his characters, even the stupid gun-collecting American.