THE MONK AND THE GUN: A PURSUIT WITHIN A PURSUIT

What if you met a monk who was in pursuit of a gun? Yes, you read that right — a gun. Even the thought of it sounds absurd. Yet, the film, 'The Monk and the Gun' follows a monk who is indeed searching for one, while weaving together stories tied to a real chapter in Bhutan’s history.

Before I go any further, I strongly recommend that you watch 'The Monk and the Gun' if you haven’t already. Otherwise, no problem — keep reading and rob yourself of the joy of experiencing a pure masterpiece firsthand.

“What is democracy?”

If you had asked the people of Bhutan that question before 2006, they probably would have stared at you blankly, wondering what nonsense you were talking about. Having lived under a monarchy for centuries, the Bhutanese were content with the rule of their king. Set during Bhutan’s transition from monarchy to democracy in 2006, the film captures a society struggling to adapt to an unfamiliar system. Some elderly villagers in the film are so deeply devoted to the monarchy that they protest against democracy itself, insisting that their king alone is their true leader.

Now, you might be wondering: what about the monk searching for a gun? Did I forget about him?

No, I didn’t.

The truth is, I want you to step out of your cocoon and discover that for yourselves, you lazy people.

While touching upon serious themes, the film beautifully blends humour, philosophy, and ethics into a deeply thoughtful and charming experience, making it an absolute must-watch.

I could go on endlessly about this film, but I’d rather have you watch it yourselves and put on your thinking hats for a while.

Alright then, I’ve yapped enough for today.

See you, soon.