The Monk and the Gun

AroView: A rare glimpse into the little-known country of Bhutan in the Eastern Himalayas that teaches us something about that part of the world, and like any worthy parable, teaches us something about the wider world we live in.

Set in 2006 on the eve of the country adapting to the foreign concept of democracy, the plot involves a Lama, a monk, an American gun collector, a legally compromised translator, an advocate and a media-savvy spokeswoman for democratic change, plus a silent majority of rural folk who are ambivalent about that change. It’s a memorable political satire that is light in tone but deep in meaning, with a message that resonates more than ever in the increasingly crazy West.

“An unexpectedly suspenseful shaggy dog story, as well as a pretty funny one.” ~Michael O’Sullivan, Washington Post

“The storytelling is lively and piquant, demonstrating the director’s sense of humor and sharp observational skills.” ~Stephen Farber, The Hollywood Reporter

“The film pulls off something truly bold: taking what are perhaps the most emotionally and symbolically loaded items in existence and subverting their meaning completely to end on a note of peace, joy, and hope for the future.” ~Ross McIndoe, Slant Magazine