Pawo Choyning Dorji has more in common with the protagonist of his debut film than first meets the eye. Like Ugyen, the reluctant school teacher of his Oscar-nominated Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom, the 38-year-old filmmaker has also navigated uncharted territory for the sake of his home country. Both Ugyen’s final year of mandatory government service and Dorji’s bid to bring Bhutanese cinema to the masses can be traced back to Lunana – a forgotten village in the tiny kingdom of Bhutan that is 3,600 metres above sea level. But Dorji didn’t expect his unassuming indie to earn a nod from the Oscars. Or go down in history as Bhutan’s first ever nomination.
Up for Best International Feature at the Academy Awards on Sunday (27 March), Lunana follows Sherab Dorji’s Ugyen, who dreams of escaping to Australia and becoming a singer. His plans are derailed, however, when he’s posted to the film’s titular village on a year-long assignment, which he accepts somewhat resentfully. Living among the locals and adapting to the gentle pace of Lunana, he goes on to forge deep bonds with the school children entrusted to his care, as this quietly uplifting film explores the true meaning of joy, purpose, and connection.
