No sophomore jinx here, this one is even better than his first, and that is saying something.
Here is an interview I did yesterday here in Telluride with its writer and director Pawo Choyning Dorji.
DEADLINE:What Inspired you to makeThe Monk and the Gun?
‘The Monk and the Gun’Films Boutique
PAWO CHOYNING DORJI:I have always been so intrigued about how Bhutan became a modern nation.
My father was a diplomat I would be watching MTV, drinking Coke, going out to McDonalds.
I actually never went to film school.
I studied political science so because of the I was very intrigued about how Bhutan became Democratic.
That mock election in the film is a true story.
We had a mock election and the Yellow Party (to preserve the Kings authority) did win.
And I asked them why and they told me in Bhutan it is all about symbolism.
DORJI:I Studied Political science in the U.S. That was what my undergraduate degree was.
I never went to film school.
DEADLINE:How did you get this wonderful cast together?
Are they professional actors?
DORJI:Mostly working with non-professionals.
I didnt even have a Lama until one week before the shoot.
I thought gee he would be perfect for the film.
He was just being himself.
DORJI:I think by American standards it is still very far from that.
If you ever visit Bhutan you will realize we dont have any film equipment.
No cameras, no lighting.
Actually when I rolled into Telluride I felt like the whole layout mirrored that location.
How efficient we make our film in the mountains and then we come to Telluride where everything resembles that.
Maybe this village is Telluride 200 years ago.
What was that experience like?
DORJI:Lunanasjourney is unlike any other as you might imagine.
It was my first film.
I had no international agent, no distributor, no producers, just myself.
We had no American distribution.
We had no publicist and we were shortlisted.
It was only then that people said oh you gotta take this more seriously.
I said okay what am I supposed to do?
They said you gotta hire people, get distribution.
And one question that we always ask ourselves is is it worth it?
Is it worth it doing this?
You are telling them yes, make the film.
You have a chance.Lunanahas a chance.
It is an inspiring story.
