It’s hard to make much sense of what’s unfolding as the first few minutes of Pawo Choyning Dorji‘s “The Monk and the Gun” pass by. However, what is clear is that this immediately comes out of the gate with a slice-of-life feeling in stark contrast to what one might expect from a film with this particular brand of odd title. Throughout the first act, which has been billed as a comedy of sorts, one supposes it is guilelessly pleasant; it could be easy to wonder if this is, in fact, actually a documentary, as the narrative revolves around several seemingly unrelated storylines set against the backdrop of the mid-2000s during a time when democratic elections are starting to see their introduction to the nation of Bhutan. It’s only when you realize that this is indeed an aimless feature film where any symbolism or real-life commentary isn’t going to make much of a mark. That and the fact that this fearless director sees this oddly flat, though congenial, project as a comedy quickly all fall into a narrative hopelessly lost in a sea of tedium.
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Admittedly, it’s not all that difficult to follow the three or four main plots, each of which could be left open for debate as to whether each could have made good movies on their own. To begin with, there are several scenes in which election officials lecture assembled crowds on the ins and outs of the voting process, eventually leading to a mock election. Other moments focus on several locals with opposing viewpoints on the candidates as they engage in light argument as to who’s the better choice. What could very well be the keystone of “The Monk and the Gun” as a whole revolves around an American, Ron (Harry Einhorn), who’s traveled to Bhutan in an effort to obtain a centuries-old rifle.
When the transaction fails to go as planned, we’re soon treated to an iconic image of a monk carrying the weapon as he makes his way across the Bhutan landscape to deliver it elsewhere, when not all that long before we’re with a group of villagers taking in a viewing of “Quantum of Solace.” This film, somehow, has everything, as much as it lacks everything else, if that makes sense.
By this point, it shouldn’t be even slightly tricky to see this as a simple film, like a tranquil monk with a friendly and harmless smile, but one that has the feel of a film school endeavor but shot with slightly better-working cameras, nevertheless. Furthermore, the cast, many of whom had never acted before, all handle their roles with as much ease as one may not have expected, and some of the scenes find the characters placed before some truly beautiful scenery. Neither of these is enough to warrant more than one view of “The Monk and the Gun,” but they’re at least nice to see.
Maybe, just maybe, this a missed target that doesn’t translate, as Dorji’s previous effort, the charming “Lunana: A Yak In The Classroom,” saw a Best International Feature Oscar nomination. To that end, it’s very clear the director seems to have an idea of what he’s doing, even if the final product simply is not very entertaining or interesting. Yet, in the spirit of being subjective, there could still be something truly memorable in his future. We’ll see. [C+]
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