Written and Directed by Pawo Choyning Dorji
Starring Sherab Dorji, Kunzang Wangdi, Tsheri Zom, Pem Zam, Kelden Lhamo Gurung and Ugyen Norbu Lhendup

Lunana is a remote village situated at a soaring 4,860m altitude in northwestern Bhutan. To get there, our incredibly ambitious first-time writer & director Pawo Choyning Dorji and his crew loaded 65 mules with cameras, solar panels, batteries, and other equipment for the 8-day trek up the mountains to undertake filming on location! This courageous effort and astonishing commitment at capturing the purity of the lands and its people in this project is worthy on its own for the film’s Oscar Nomination for Best International Feature Film at the 2022 Academy Awards ®. 

The government of the Kingdom of Bhutan are guided by a philosophy known as Gross National Happiness (GNH), an index used to measure the collective happiness and well-being of a population, yet the primary character of this movie believes his happiness awaits in a far away and foreign nation.

Young city slicker Ugyen (Sherab Dorji) lives with his grandmother (Tsheri Zom) and is approaching the fifth and final year of mandatory training as a teacher for the government. Becoming a teacher isn’t something Ugyen feels he’s cut out for but is pushed to continue completing after his grandmother discovers a stashed-away pamphlet of Australia, where Ugyen dreams of pursuing his real passion – to be a singer. The ministry enforces Ugyen to finish training by sending him to Lunana, which is home to just 56 residents and the most remote school in the World. Convinced at first that sending him to Lunana will drive him bananas, Ugyen forms surprising connections that may instil a change of heart.

Our central character’s journey might be largely foreseeable, yet this film’s themes of human connection, searching for our own version of happiness and discovering that precious sense of belonging rise to the towering heights of its magnificent locations and are universally engaging. 

Its visual authenticity is clearly outstanding, required laborious means to get there and is undoubtedly a highlight of this film, but Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom also boasts emotional authenticity. The genuine warmth and kindness of the townspeople and their hospitality towards Ugyen, particularly while he is anything but grateful for their services and selflessness, is beautiful to witness. All actors playing these characters are in fact highlanders who have not only never acted before, but haven’t even seen a movie, a camera or the outside world in their lives. It’s quite remarkable!

Spoken in Dzongkha and English, Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom is a wonderful and heart-warming film that’s both a joy and so easy to watch. Treat yourself to a viewing at a cinema.   

Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom is showing in selected cinemas across Australia from June 2nd.

Moviedoc thanks Rialto Distribution and Annette Smith: Ned & Co for providing the screener link to watch and review this film.

Review by Leigh for Moviedoc

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