A man who's just been given an important position in his village is still not satisfied with life. He dreams of a more prosperous life in America. So he starts his journey along with other travellers. This is a beguiling film full of marvellous wisdom that rings true for everyone. As the journey slowly continues one of the travellers tells a story within the story which is just as compelling as the real one. There's also some wonderful images of Bhutan that will make you wonder if it's possible to go there for your next vacation! Delightful.(8/10)
32 Reviews
not preachy, just excellent
nanciwithani15 October 2005
I did not find this film preachy or disappointing. You're seeing a Bhutanese film. What exactly did you expect?? I thought it was hilarious, the characters were fantastic, the story is a classic in any culture. It is particularly poignant, however, in a culture that has so far been largely untouched by the 'advances' of the outside world. The scenery was beautiful, of course, but the shots, the cinematography was also outstanding. The humour was subtle and clever. Having a real story, and a good secondary story, does not make it preachy in my opinion. It's a coming of age story, it's a love story. 'Foreign' does not necessarily mean it's a great film, but in this case, I think it works.
Bhutanese road movie
johnfos31 May 2006
It's a bit simplistic to call this a "road movie", but certainly much of the story follows a group of unlikely Bhutanese travellers hitch-hiking and riding in all manner of vehicles. Interspersed with this theme is a second story of a love triangle in the rugged mountains. Both stories are commentaries about the complexities of life and romance in the Himalayas as western ways take root.
Comparisons will inevitably be drawn with Khyentse Norbu's earlier movie, The Cup, and I have to admit that I preferred The Cup. I'll never forget the youthful exuberance of those monks as the World Cup soccer final approached. And I feel the Buddhist message was a bit more direct in The Cup.
However, the tagline of Travellers and Magicians is "The bitter and sweet of temporary things", and this sounds pretty Buddhist to me. We tend to forget that everything is transitory and grasp at it as if it will exist forever, and this is the cause of our suffering.
And that, kind friends, is the extent of my Buddhist wisdom for today.
Enjoy!
Comparisons will inevitably be drawn with Khyentse Norbu's earlier movie, The Cup, and I have to admit that I preferred The Cup. I'll never forget the youthful exuberance of those monks as the World Cup soccer final approached. And I feel the Buddhist message was a bit more direct in The Cup.
However, the tagline of Travellers and Magicians is "The bitter and sweet of temporary things", and this sounds pretty Buddhist to me. We tend to forget that everything is transitory and grasp at it as if it will exist forever, and this is the cause of our suffering.
And that, kind friends, is the extent of my Buddhist wisdom for today.
Enjoy!
A Beautiful & Spiritual Film
festrada4 February 2005
The second film from Buddhist director Khyentse Norbu (his first film is 1999's "The Cup", "Travellers & Magicians" is a beautiful, funny, spiritual and understated piece of cinema. The film involves two stories about two men, both on very similar journeys in very different worlds, with two very different outcomes.
Dondup (Tshewang Dendup) is an important chief officer in a remote village in the Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan, but soon realizes that he can not stay there his whole life and longs to travel to his dreamland called America. He would rather see himself picking apples in the U.S. than live a mundane life in his village. And so he begins his journey, hitchhiking his way closer to his dreamland. On the way he meets a feisty monk (played by a funny Sonam Kinga), an old apple seller, and a paper maker & his young daughter Sonam, whom Dondup slowly begins to grow an attraction for.
During the journey, the monk tells Dondup and the group an old fable that parallel's Dondup's journey and quest for a better, more exciting life. The film then inter-cuts back and forth from Dondup's story to Tashi's story. Tashi (played by the charismatic Lhakpa Dorji) is a restless farm boy studying magic, who dreams of one day leaving his boring village. While having lunch with his younger brother, he unexpectedly embarks on a journey of his own where he meets an old recluse named Agay (Gomchen Penjore) and his beautiful, and much younger, wife Deki (Deki Yangzom). Soon, Tashi falls in love with Deki and soon they begin a secret affair. Here, the film turns almost noirish.
As the monk concludes Tashi's fable, Dondup is left with a dilemma is the grass truly greener on the other side?
This film was the first feature to be made in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan and was shot entirely in the Dzongkha dialect, which is the official language of Bhutan. Because few of the cast spoke this new language, most had to be taught by a dialect coach on-set. The cast does a terrific job and the performances are all excellent...all very natural. The standouts in the film are Tshewang Dendup and Lahakpa Dorji, the two protagonists. Though they go on similar journeys, both exemplify different personalities and both actors successfully establish their characters as human...likable yet flawed. My only complaint is that both their characters don't fully come to a full arc, more so for Dondup's character. Though i'm sure Norbu intended the audience to make their own conclusion to Dondup's journey of discovery. I think maybe Norbu created such great, dynamic characters, I didn't want their stories to end. I wanted to continue riding along on their journeys, curious to see what happens next.
The cinematography is stunning and Alan Kozlowski does a wonderful job at contrasting the different looks of Dondup's story and Tashi's cautionary tale. Dondup's world is a natural canvas that showcases the beautiful scenery of the Bhutan landscape. Tashi's world is darker and mystical, shot with dark blues and greens and soft lighting. The final scene at the creek of Tashi's story is absolutely breathtaking.
Highly recommended.
Dondup (Tshewang Dendup) is an important chief officer in a remote village in the Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan, but soon realizes that he can not stay there his whole life and longs to travel to his dreamland called America. He would rather see himself picking apples in the U.S. than live a mundane life in his village. And so he begins his journey, hitchhiking his way closer to his dreamland. On the way he meets a feisty monk (played by a funny Sonam Kinga), an old apple seller, and a paper maker & his young daughter Sonam, whom Dondup slowly begins to grow an attraction for.
During the journey, the monk tells Dondup and the group an old fable that parallel's Dondup's journey and quest for a better, more exciting life. The film then inter-cuts back and forth from Dondup's story to Tashi's story. Tashi (played by the charismatic Lhakpa Dorji) is a restless farm boy studying magic, who dreams of one day leaving his boring village. While having lunch with his younger brother, he unexpectedly embarks on a journey of his own where he meets an old recluse named Agay (Gomchen Penjore) and his beautiful, and much younger, wife Deki (Deki Yangzom). Soon, Tashi falls in love with Deki and soon they begin a secret affair. Here, the film turns almost noirish.
As the monk concludes Tashi's fable, Dondup is left with a dilemma is the grass truly greener on the other side?
This film was the first feature to be made in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan and was shot entirely in the Dzongkha dialect, which is the official language of Bhutan. Because few of the cast spoke this new language, most had to be taught by a dialect coach on-set. The cast does a terrific job and the performances are all excellent...all very natural. The standouts in the film are Tshewang Dendup and Lahakpa Dorji, the two protagonists. Though they go on similar journeys, both exemplify different personalities and both actors successfully establish their characters as human...likable yet flawed. My only complaint is that both their characters don't fully come to a full arc, more so for Dondup's character. Though i'm sure Norbu intended the audience to make their own conclusion to Dondup's journey of discovery. I think maybe Norbu created such great, dynamic characters, I didn't want their stories to end. I wanted to continue riding along on their journeys, curious to see what happens next.
The cinematography is stunning and Alan Kozlowski does a wonderful job at contrasting the different looks of Dondup's story and Tashi's cautionary tale. Dondup's world is a natural canvas that showcases the beautiful scenery of the Bhutan landscape. Tashi's world is darker and mystical, shot with dark blues and greens and soft lighting. The final scene at the creek of Tashi's story is absolutely breathtaking.
Highly recommended.
Well crafted film fuses noir, comedy, and multi-culti
LGwriter4930 January 2005
In this, his second film, Khyentse Norbu shows how skilled a filmmaker he really is. An ordained lama, he studied independent film-making in New York and here it really pays off. While his first film, The Cup, was a well done portrait of life in Bhutan, Travellers and Magicians is that and much more. Taking his cue from, among other works, the great Ju Dou by Zhang Yimou, Norbu gives us a village official who longs for the excitement and money to be had in America.
Sporting shiny white new athletic shoes, the official makes his way to the main road where he tries to catch a bus to Thimbu, first stop on his journey. But he misses the bus and soon meets up with an interesting assortment of fellow travelers--an old apple seller, a monk, and a farmer with his beautiful daughter. While waiting for the bus--or anyone driving who can give any or all of them a ride--they're entertained by the monk who tells a tale of a young apprentice magician who loses his way in a large forest and comes upon an old man and his much younger wife.
Norbu intercuts the ongoing tale with different legs of the travelers' journey on the seemingly endless road. The editing chops on display here are truly impressive, marking this as the work of a director who really knows how to make a film grab the viewer. We see the young magician lying in bed at night, thinking only of the young wife, and dissolve to the official waking up in the morning, having no doubt thought of the farmer's daughter much of the night.
This is much more than great editing; it gives us strong links between how we live our lives and how we imagine our lives should be lived. The tales we tell, the ones we remember, are those that inform how we feel we should or could do what we're not doing now. It's our memory of another story--what we read long ago, or what someone told us long ago--that gives us the unofficial subconscious laws we live by. That's what Norbu tells us in this great film.
A giant leap forward from The Cup, Travellers and Magicians is a first class cinematic work that should be seen by many.
Highly recommended.
Sporting shiny white new athletic shoes, the official makes his way to the main road where he tries to catch a bus to Thimbu, first stop on his journey. But he misses the bus and soon meets up with an interesting assortment of fellow travelers--an old apple seller, a monk, and a farmer with his beautiful daughter. While waiting for the bus--or anyone driving who can give any or all of them a ride--they're entertained by the monk who tells a tale of a young apprentice magician who loses his way in a large forest and comes upon an old man and his much younger wife.
Norbu intercuts the ongoing tale with different legs of the travelers' journey on the seemingly endless road. The editing chops on display here are truly impressive, marking this as the work of a director who really knows how to make a film grab the viewer. We see the young magician lying in bed at night, thinking only of the young wife, and dissolve to the official waking up in the morning, having no doubt thought of the farmer's daughter much of the night.
This is much more than great editing; it gives us strong links between how we live our lives and how we imagine our lives should be lived. The tales we tell, the ones we remember, are those that inform how we feel we should or could do what we're not doing now. It's our memory of another story--what we read long ago, or what someone told us long ago--that gives us the unofficial subconscious laws we live by. That's what Norbu tells us in this great film.
A giant leap forward from The Cup, Travellers and Magicians is a first class cinematic work that should be seen by many.
Highly recommended.
Pernicious effect of the American way of life
rowmorg5 November 2005
At the outset of this charming fable, the postman receives his monthly pay. "Lots of money now" comments someone as he emerges from the headman's house. "Bah, less than an American makes in a morning!" exclaims the disgruntled worker.
Yes, even in Bhutan, they've heard about the fabled American way of life, just as that way of life commences a rapid decline, with monopolistic corporate global hegemony stripping Americans of jobs and a decent standard of living and the flow of petroleum that fuels their civilisation beginning to peak.
Dondup is the type to match action with words, and he's lined up a contact at the US Embassy in the capital who will get him into the USA via a dodgy immigration form like the ones the 911 hijackers supposedly filled out in Riyadh. Dondup loves smoking, pop music on his ghetto blaster, cutting a rug in his room and body-building. As his T-shirt declares: he loves New York.
However, as the celluloid runs and we get the flavour of life in Bhutan we start wondering how long it will be before Dondup is on Prozac in some hole in suburban LA engaging in petty crime to get by and dreaming of returning to his homeland. Fortunately, a fable told by his fellow hitch-hiker, plus the prospect of marriage to a dishy 19 year-old maiden, returns him to his senses. The audience's relief is palpable.
This is a film that mildly imparts the important insight that America is no longer a land of which to dream. If you haven't acquired the minimal attention span of the typical Hollywood consumer, requiring a thrill a minute just to keep awake, it's well worth a viewing.
Yes, even in Bhutan, they've heard about the fabled American way of life, just as that way of life commences a rapid decline, with monopolistic corporate global hegemony stripping Americans of jobs and a decent standard of living and the flow of petroleum that fuels their civilisation beginning to peak.
Dondup is the type to match action with words, and he's lined up a contact at the US Embassy in the capital who will get him into the USA via a dodgy immigration form like the ones the 911 hijackers supposedly filled out in Riyadh. Dondup loves smoking, pop music on his ghetto blaster, cutting a rug in his room and body-building. As his T-shirt declares: he loves New York.
However, as the celluloid runs and we get the flavour of life in Bhutan we start wondering how long it will be before Dondup is on Prozac in some hole in suburban LA engaging in petty crime to get by and dreaming of returning to his homeland. Fortunately, a fable told by his fellow hitch-hiker, plus the prospect of marriage to a dishy 19 year-old maiden, returns him to his senses. The audience's relief is palpable.
This is a film that mildly imparts the important insight that America is no longer a land of which to dream. If you haven't acquired the minimal attention span of the typical Hollywood consumer, requiring a thrill a minute just to keep awake, it's well worth a viewing.
Bhutiful
ThurstonHunger7 April 2006
I saw this well over a month ago, and loved it so dearly that I find it hard to review. I've already recommended this to a ton of friends in person, and two have already reported back that they enjoyed it. If you are reading my reviews, and resonating with the films that I've rated highly, I politely urge you to seek out this film.
Indeed, it makes me want to seek out Bhutan. I'm trying to figure out how to get my family there. Travelling there is trickier than one might imagine, as I understand it only so many slots are available, but you pay a one-price-for-your-whole-visit. Amazing.
And this is an amazing film, and easier to experience than Bhutan itself. The director is a lama incarnate, but he's studied at the Pratt Institute. The film is gorgeous, and evidently portends of Norbu's desire to launch a Bhutanese film industry. The scenery is a major star, as we have a road film with not too much traveling. Sweeping vistas keep the people in perspective, and their problems as well. This road movie has plenty of sitting, and story-telling, and in the latter another more ancient road "movie" is unfurled. The cinematography in the latter swirls.
Just see the film...
Also, evidently the actors and actresses here are all amateurs, but so well-cast and so well-coaxed. The forest hermit's wife has a beauty in her way that exceeds the beauty of her form. The winking wisdom of the story-telling monk I suspect mirrors Norbu's own role.
As a "religious" film, "Travelers and Magicians" made a believer out of this agnostic. It doesn't look away or impose illusions when viewing people, their desires and mistakes are embraced. This is a warm film, without ever being smothering.
Imbued with humor and humility, artful in scope and cinescope, this film gets you to contemplate your mores, rather than have someone else's dogmatically driven into you.
You are the journey you must take, make sure to visit Bhutan on your way. Even if only on this screen of dreams.
9/10
Indeed, it makes me want to seek out Bhutan. I'm trying to figure out how to get my family there. Travelling there is trickier than one might imagine, as I understand it only so many slots are available, but you pay a one-price-for-your-whole-visit. Amazing.
And this is an amazing film, and easier to experience than Bhutan itself. The director is a lama incarnate, but he's studied at the Pratt Institute. The film is gorgeous, and evidently portends of Norbu's desire to launch a Bhutanese film industry. The scenery is a major star, as we have a road film with not too much traveling. Sweeping vistas keep the people in perspective, and their problems as well. This road movie has plenty of sitting, and story-telling, and in the latter another more ancient road "movie" is unfurled. The cinematography in the latter swirls.
Just see the film...
Also, evidently the actors and actresses here are all amateurs, but so well-cast and so well-coaxed. The forest hermit's wife has a beauty in her way that exceeds the beauty of her form. The winking wisdom of the story-telling monk I suspect mirrors Norbu's own role.
As a "religious" film, "Travelers and Magicians" made a believer out of this agnostic. It doesn't look away or impose illusions when viewing people, their desires and mistakes are embraced. This is a warm film, without ever being smothering.
Imbued with humor and humility, artful in scope and cinescope, this film gets you to contemplate your mores, rather than have someone else's dogmatically driven into you.
You are the journey you must take, make sure to visit Bhutan on your way. Even if only on this screen of dreams.
9/10
Journeys and Green Grass
BrandtSponseller10 July 2006
Dondup (Tsewang Dandup) is a Bhutanese government officer who has just been assigned to a small village. He's anxiously awaiting a letter from a friend in America. As soon as he receives it, he plans to meet his friend in Bhutan's capital, Timphu, and from there make his way to America, which he imagines of a land of great beauty and great opportunity, with "cool", beautiful women and an exciting lifestyle.
Extending from the premise, Travellers and Magicians becomes a combination of a road film and a grass-is-greener film. Dondup receives his letter, but partially due to cultural formalities and niceties, he misses the bus he needed to catch to make it to Timphu--a 2-day journey--on time. Increasingly agitated, he meets up with a humble apple-seller and a Buddhist monk on the road, and eventually two more people join the group. While they travel, the monk very gradually tells them a parallel story meant to serve as a parable, which we see enacted.
The structure and subgenres of the film provide a nice framework for two major, intertwined themes, both of them very Buddhist in nature. The subtler theme, most rooted in it being a road movie, is that of living in the moment, which is one aspect of mindfulness. The journey, here shown in a literal way, but also meant figuratively, is just as important as arriving at a destination. The more explicit theme, rooted in the grass-is-greener aspect, is a warning against the attachment to hopes, desires and dreams. Attachment is different than merely having hopes, desires and dreams. Attachment is a state where one stops being mindful of the here and now.
Dondup keeps dreaming about America. In his mind, he's already there, and his appearance and behavior evidence this. He talks of how beautiful it must be, yet Bhutan, which is on the edge of South-Central China, in the Himalayas, not too far from Mount Everest and Nepal, isn't short on beauty. Exquisite cinematography keeps us aware of this, and stresses how Dondup cannot see what is right in front of his face. He also dreams of the job he might hold in America--perhaps he'll be an apple-picker or dishwasher, he muses. But he has a relatively well-paid and certainly well-respected position in his culture. He dreams of the women in America, yet he runs into a very beautiful and elegant woman on his journey who is young, single and very attracted to him. The grass-is-greener theme even rears its head by Dondup trying to block out live music that's right in front of him (thanks to the Monk with a dramnyen, which is a bit like a guitar) by playing western music on a boom box.
At the same time, the parallel story told by the monk features a young man with similar dreams who inadvertently escapes to an unknown area where he too meets a beautiful woman who is attracted to him. The woman's husband has also achieved "the other side of the fence" in his grass-is-greener dream, but with the arrival of the young man, it backfires on him. Achieving the greener grass also ends up backfiring on the young man in a way, and he seeks a return home.
It's important to remember that in Buddhism, these ideas are not presented in moralizing way, and they're not presented as something black and white. Hopes, desires and dreams are not considered bad things (and neither is attachment--the problems with such things are more matter-of-factly presented), and certainly, the grass could be greener somewhere else. Because of this, Travellers and Magicians writer/director Khyentse Norbu maintains appropriate degrees of ambiguity throughout the film. While doing so, he presents a story with important themes that is captivatingly told with beautiful cinematography and excellent performances. Don't miss this one.
Extending from the premise, Travellers and Magicians becomes a combination of a road film and a grass-is-greener film. Dondup receives his letter, but partially due to cultural formalities and niceties, he misses the bus he needed to catch to make it to Timphu--a 2-day journey--on time. Increasingly agitated, he meets up with a humble apple-seller and a Buddhist monk on the road, and eventually two more people join the group. While they travel, the monk very gradually tells them a parallel story meant to serve as a parable, which we see enacted.
The structure and subgenres of the film provide a nice framework for two major, intertwined themes, both of them very Buddhist in nature. The subtler theme, most rooted in it being a road movie, is that of living in the moment, which is one aspect of mindfulness. The journey, here shown in a literal way, but also meant figuratively, is just as important as arriving at a destination. The more explicit theme, rooted in the grass-is-greener aspect, is a warning against the attachment to hopes, desires and dreams. Attachment is different than merely having hopes, desires and dreams. Attachment is a state where one stops being mindful of the here and now.
Dondup keeps dreaming about America. In his mind, he's already there, and his appearance and behavior evidence this. He talks of how beautiful it must be, yet Bhutan, which is on the edge of South-Central China, in the Himalayas, not too far from Mount Everest and Nepal, isn't short on beauty. Exquisite cinematography keeps us aware of this, and stresses how Dondup cannot see what is right in front of his face. He also dreams of the job he might hold in America--perhaps he'll be an apple-picker or dishwasher, he muses. But he has a relatively well-paid and certainly well-respected position in his culture. He dreams of the women in America, yet he runs into a very beautiful and elegant woman on his journey who is young, single and very attracted to him. The grass-is-greener theme even rears its head by Dondup trying to block out live music that's right in front of him (thanks to the Monk with a dramnyen, which is a bit like a guitar) by playing western music on a boom box.
At the same time, the parallel story told by the monk features a young man with similar dreams who inadvertently escapes to an unknown area where he too meets a beautiful woman who is attracted to him. The woman's husband has also achieved "the other side of the fence" in his grass-is-greener dream, but with the arrival of the young man, it backfires on him. Achieving the greener grass also ends up backfiring on the young man in a way, and he seeks a return home.
It's important to remember that in Buddhism, these ideas are not presented in moralizing way, and they're not presented as something black and white. Hopes, desires and dreams are not considered bad things (and neither is attachment--the problems with such things are more matter-of-factly presented), and certainly, the grass could be greener somewhere else. Because of this, Travellers and Magicians writer/director Khyentse Norbu maintains appropriate degrees of ambiguity throughout the film. While doing so, he presents a story with important themes that is captivatingly told with beautiful cinematography and excellent performances. Don't miss this one.
The grass may not be greener on the other side
alvinliuing20 May 2004
The movie captures the beauty of bhutanese life. For a city dweller like me, we may fail to comprehend how nice it is to just relax and let go. We are always rushing for time and always chasing dreams. The film captures the impatience and arrogance of Dondup.He thinks that going to America can let him earn more and be happier, and he feels contempt of his own country and culture. He is like a typical person obsessed with going to his "dreamland"( or for our case, dream job, dream girls,etc) and blind to the beauty that surrounds him. The movie is a cautionary tale that the grass may not be greener on the other side.
Love vs. Lust
barbgershenson29 January 2005
Love versus Lust... All of the actors were chosen from local Bhutanese people. The inner stories are the most fascinating. An inspiration to all. To young people hoping and dreaming for the material world's "gifts". To Westerners who have never imagined or seen the beauty and rich culture of Bhutan. Just be patient, for this movie will lead you on a journey which you could never imagine..... I learned new perspectives about Hope and Love. The stories don't follow the Hollywood model of the acts. But, for me this storytelling method is more like that of the fable, fairytale or morality tale like Eric Roehmer's Morality Tales. For me, this is a much more enriching art form. It's not your typical Hollywood movie, thanks.
Nice movie
enraptinreverie11 November 2004
Just watched this movie last night. Its about a government officer who can't wait to get out of a small village in Bhutan in order to try his luck in dreamland - America. On the journey out, he is befriended several different characters one of which is a monk. During this travel the monk tells of story about 'dreamland'. In it is about a magician who only yearns to escape from his village of boredom and nothing else. The magician does get his wish...only to learn a few lessons after. As you are amazed at the scenic atmosphere, the parallel between the officer and the magician is drawn......A nice Asian fairytale-like picture amidst Bhutanian culture...worth a watch.
Simple stories, not that special though
grinna19 June 2005
The comments I read on this movie about scenery and vista are a little over stated. Some Buddhist life philosophies come through - but take a lot of time and film to make simple points. The movie is good, but it could have been a lot better. Some scenes were shot in the same place, eg: you see the same part of the creek/river as they move slowly along a dirt road to Thimphu. The movie is filmed along a roadside as five people travel to Thimphu. A Buddhist monk tells them stories to pass the time; and then ,cut-in scenes of the Buddhist monk's story are seen(by the viewing audience)on film. A continuity-goof appears in this movie, the Buddhist monk disappears from the back of the truck, only to reappear again in the next scene. I was told by other commentators in this forum to go and see this movie on the wide screen, for its grandeur etc. but I felt a bit disappointed, it could have waited for the DVD to come out. I was hoping that the travelers could have reached Thimphu, I would have liked to see the city and its people. This story/plot reminded me of many other movies I have seen, rural person sets out to go to the big city, gets an education along the way.
At the end scene, I was waiting for Dandup (the main character) to walk back along the road towards the young girl that he had fallen for. I think the director/writer missed a big opportunity here to serve the audience's expectations.
As is my nature, I became suspicious that a large sports runner/jogger company had sponsored this movie; Dandup's runners are constantly shown. I understood that the director was demonstrating the clash of culture thing of Dandup wearing these runners in a Bhutan culture, but there were far, far too many shots of the runners. The movie could have been called, "Dandup's runners".
At the end scene, I was waiting for Dandup (the main character) to walk back along the road towards the young girl that he had fallen for. I think the director/writer missed a big opportunity here to serve the audience's expectations.
As is my nature, I became suspicious that a large sports runner/jogger company had sponsored this movie; Dandup's runners are constantly shown. I understood that the director was demonstrating the clash of culture thing of Dandup wearing these runners in a Bhutan culture, but there were far, far too many shots of the runners. The movie could have been called, "Dandup's runners".
two stories or one
laureanogomez9 June 2005
Warning: Spoilers
The movie starts with a close up of a face. That face belongs to the monk that in my translated version (spanish) was mosquito. Now you can get a grip of the calm life of the monks and also the patience and love for their life in them, this in contrast with the life of Dondup, who is desperate of that living. The whole movie is the journey into the life of each one and seeing the things that matter in life. For Dondup it was a physical journey, travelling and meeting and sharing with people. For Tashi it was a spiritual journey, based on the magic (hence the title). This is also reinforced by the beautiful management of the camera and the filters used showing a clear and vivid physical journey (highly contrasted) in difference with the sepia tone of the spiritual journey. Highly recommended if you want to see a beautiful work of art and you are not bothered with looking at the best Hollywood films and have tolerance for spiritual and mystic things. Although the movie deals very heavily on this aspects, the movie is beyond spirituality.
Has a natural beauty and charm
howard.schumann26 November 2005
Warning: Spoilers
In Travellers and Magicians, Tibetan Buddhist director Khyentse Norbu spins two parallel stories that deliver one message -- happiness can be discovered simply by being in the present moment. Picking up from his internationally acclaimed feature, The Cup, Norbu's second film is filled with gentle humor, gorgeous scenery and music, and astute observations of the foibles of human nature. Shot entirely in Dzongkha, Bhutan, a tiny country of 700,000 people in Central Asia, Norbu assembled a cast of non-actors including a monk, a banking executive, and a government researcher, and all perform with distinction. In the first story, a young university graduate working in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan longs for a more exciting life in America but discovers the quiet places in his mind when he misses the bus to his first destination. The second tale is about a young student of magic who also seeks to escape his mundane life in his rural village but must confront passion and jealousy when he loses his way in a forest.
Dondup, a government officer, played by former Bhutan producer Tshewang Dendup, wears Nikes, sports a T-shirt that says I love New York, listens to rock music on his portable stereo, and has walls cluttered with pictures of scantily clad Caucasian women. He says he would rather pick apples in America than continue to live in his isolated village. When Dondup receives the letter he had been waiting for, he packs his suitcases and sets off for greener pastures but misses the bus and is forced to hitch a ride on the mountain road. There he meets other travelers: an aged apple peddler (Apo Dochu), a Buddhist monk (Sonam Kingu), a rice paper seller and his lovely nineteen-year old daughter Sonam (Sonam Lhamo). As they wait for the next vehicle to arrive, they listen to a story serenely told by the Buddhist monk.
In the fable, the restless Tashi (Lhakpa Dorji) is tricked by his brother to enter a world of magic and illusion. Leaving his village on a magic horse, he becomes lost in the woods but is rescued by an old farmer. When he discovers his passion for the farmer's seductive young wife Deki (Deki Yangzom), however, he must deal with dark emotions beyond his experience. Travellers and Magicians has a natural beauty and charm and tells an important message - that we can be very happy just by being aware of and handling what is in front of us. As the poet Shakyamuni put it, "One who clearly grasps the present deepens his state of life". If you are not fond of spiritual messages, however, you can simply enjoy the stories and the natural wonders of a pristine land before, as Norbu says, "there are 200 McDonalds, 100 Burger Kings, 100 Starbucks, 50 KFCs, polluted water, and deforestation".
Dondup, a government officer, played by former Bhutan producer Tshewang Dendup, wears Nikes, sports a T-shirt that says I love New York, listens to rock music on his portable stereo, and has walls cluttered with pictures of scantily clad Caucasian women. He says he would rather pick apples in America than continue to live in his isolated village. When Dondup receives the letter he had been waiting for, he packs his suitcases and sets off for greener pastures but misses the bus and is forced to hitch a ride on the mountain road. There he meets other travelers: an aged apple peddler (Apo Dochu), a Buddhist monk (Sonam Kingu), a rice paper seller and his lovely nineteen-year old daughter Sonam (Sonam Lhamo). As they wait for the next vehicle to arrive, they listen to a story serenely told by the Buddhist monk.
In the fable, the restless Tashi (Lhakpa Dorji) is tricked by his brother to enter a world of magic and illusion. Leaving his village on a magic horse, he becomes lost in the woods but is rescued by an old farmer. When he discovers his passion for the farmer's seductive young wife Deki (Deki Yangzom), however, he must deal with dark emotions beyond his experience. Travellers and Magicians has a natural beauty and charm and tells an important message - that we can be very happy just by being aware of and handling what is in front of us. As the poet Shakyamuni put it, "One who clearly grasps the present deepens his state of life". If you are not fond of spiritual messages, however, you can simply enjoy the stories and the natural wonders of a pristine land before, as Norbu says, "there are 200 McDonalds, 100 Burger Kings, 100 Starbucks, 50 KFCs, polluted water, and deforestation".
travelers and magicians
june4327 February 2005
Khyentse Norbu's cinematic abilities have grown since The Cup, his previous movie. I am hugely impressed across the board. The screenplay is great, cinematography is great, the story is great, and the editing is great. Also the characterization is outstanding. All the characters, even the "bad guys", are seen with compassion. I found the movie very entertaining and when I left the movie I felt uplifted. Meanwhile the dark side of humanity was not left unexplored. It has a kind of spirituality that seeps in at the edges, as if by osmosis, and is far from preachy or pedantic. This movie reminds me of some of the great movie-making of the 60's....Bergman and Fellini to name the directors. It is deceptively simple in it's beauty yet, to be bold in my opinion, I would also say it has reached toward and achieved the archetypal. A definite should see!
I'm going very, very far away. To the land of my dreams.
lastliberal11 May 2008
Khyentse Norbu gives us a simple film that is done with common people. It is the message that is important, not the stars.
Two men go on a journey. They are both after the same thing - dreaming of a better life. One, unfortunately feels that his better life can be had with another man's wife, and the result is tragic. The other dreams of going to America, where he can make more money picking apples that he can as a Government official in Bhutan.
We all search and dream for a better life, and while we are dreaming, we miss the life that is going on all around us at the moment. We focus so much on what could be, we do not appreciate what is.
Norbu's message is a simple Buddhist one. Live for the moment. This story is a perfect illustration and a joy to see.
Two men go on a journey. They are both after the same thing - dreaming of a better life. One, unfortunately feels that his better life can be had with another man's wife, and the result is tragic. The other dreams of going to America, where he can make more money picking apples that he can as a Government official in Bhutan.
We all search and dream for a better life, and while we are dreaming, we miss the life that is going on all around us at the moment. We focus so much on what could be, we do not appreciate what is.
Norbu's message is a simple Buddhist one. Live for the moment. This story is a perfect illustration and a joy to see.
Sweet movie with a message
philserve7 January 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Often less is more...and that is part of the message in this movie, as well as the style. With so many empty, soul-less blockbusters to fray our nerves, Travellers and Magicians is a refreshing and heartfelt view into the psyche of the Bhutanese people, Buddhism, the Himalayas and human joy, passion and suffering. The theme of the movie is someone wanting to be somewhere else, in this case, the 'dream' of America, the land of opportunity, when a more wonderful opportunity arises right in front of him, and changes his mind...perhaps.
The director, a Buddhist monk and lama, (who also directed "The Cup")was inspired by Bertolucci, and TAM has a similar minimalist kind of style and presentation to Little Buddha. And this is perfectly apt for the country of Bhutan, and the pace serves to bring out the heart and soul of the movie. The photography is wonderful, showing sweeping shots of the beautiful Bhutanese Himalayas and countryside. All the characters are rich without being caricatures, and the mix of 'reality' and myth (a real Bhutanese fable) works well. The traveling Buddhist monk really stands out, IMO.
If you're looking for a movie with heart, a simple message and gorgeous scenery, just sit back and soak in the beauty found on several levels in this movie.
** SPOILERS **
I went to the initial release of the movie in the US, and the director of photography, Alan Koslowski, as well as the main female actor, high schooler Sonam Llamo, were present afterward for Q&A. Some of the things they said were quite interesting: there was not one professional actor in the movie - the apple man is really an apple man, Deki works in a bank, and the two main male characters in the movie, Dendrup and Tashi, are in Bhutan TV and movie production. The apple man, in real life, actually has never seen a real movie, and didn't understand the concept of "cut", or retakes - he couldn't understand why he had to get back on the bus several times in a row!
The director, a Buddhist monk and lama, (who also directed "The Cup")was inspired by Bertolucci, and TAM has a similar minimalist kind of style and presentation to Little Buddha. And this is perfectly apt for the country of Bhutan, and the pace serves to bring out the heart and soul of the movie. The photography is wonderful, showing sweeping shots of the beautiful Bhutanese Himalayas and countryside. All the characters are rich without being caricatures, and the mix of 'reality' and myth (a real Bhutanese fable) works well. The traveling Buddhist monk really stands out, IMO.
If you're looking for a movie with heart, a simple message and gorgeous scenery, just sit back and soak in the beauty found on several levels in this movie.
** SPOILERS **
I went to the initial release of the movie in the US, and the director of photography, Alan Koslowski, as well as the main female actor, high schooler Sonam Llamo, were present afterward for Q&A. Some of the things they said were quite interesting: there was not one professional actor in the movie - the apple man is really an apple man, Deki works in a bank, and the two main male characters in the movie, Dendrup and Tashi, are in Bhutan TV and movie production. The apple man, in real life, actually has never seen a real movie, and didn't understand the concept of "cut", or retakes - he couldn't understand why he had to get back on the bus several times in a row!
inadvertent Samsara
noontide3529 October 2006
The name of the movie alone fascinated me for a long time, when i finally saw it, it turned out not to be quite what i had expected. I always think deep in the essence of Buddhism there lies a hint of resignation and defeatism in the disguise of peace and harmony, but in a positive sort of way. Ppl are obsessed with the feeling of being in control, evidenced by thousands of choices made on a daily basis. But really a man has very limited power in steering his life in the way he envisioned -- entrenched in his own lifeboat in the sea of society and history, he has no way of knowing in which way the wind blows, all he can do is trying his best to maintain the balance of that boat in the raging storm so it does not tip over under the repeated attack of thunders, lightnings and the surging waves. So Buddhism says why not give up the pretense of being in control and take what's coming to you. Let go the obsession over the man-made concept of fairness and play with the cards you were dealt.
The whole story of the travelers hinged on the last conversation between the official and the monk. Even what you just came to realize as the true meaning of life is only contingent truth. Everything is circumstantial, and beauty by its nature will die right in front of your eyes just as you started to get use to it. In a sense this movie is a tragedy, but done in an almost nonchalant way, and that's the beauty of it. The teasing tone of the monk also reflects the mentality of the story-telling. The official thought he had a vision in life, then the movie made painstaking efforts to build up this self-revealing moment where he discovered what he really wanted in life. And that moment itself was done in such a casual way you'd miss it if you blinked. Then when the movie drew to the end he dismissed that revelation with a brief smile and we were back to where we started. Then you would have the revelation of your own as the credits started to roll : Oh, so it's like a Samsara.
Speaking of which, the story in the story about lust and murder (or it's more like the story in the story which is in the main story) reflects my favorite quote in the movie "Samsara". In that movie, a monk succumbed to the flesh of a woman and deflected to the worldly life, and years later his dying master sent him a message: "I'm about to die. And I know I haven't achieved Nirvana in this life so I'm destined to go into Samsara and come back to this world as a new born. Maybe we should meet again, and then you can tell me, which is more fulfilling -- to satisfy a thousand desire or to conquer one."
The whole story of the travelers hinged on the last conversation between the official and the monk. Even what you just came to realize as the true meaning of life is only contingent truth. Everything is circumstantial, and beauty by its nature will die right in front of your eyes just as you started to get use to it. In a sense this movie is a tragedy, but done in an almost nonchalant way, and that's the beauty of it. The teasing tone of the monk also reflects the mentality of the story-telling. The official thought he had a vision in life, then the movie made painstaking efforts to build up this self-revealing moment where he discovered what he really wanted in life. And that moment itself was done in such a casual way you'd miss it if you blinked. Then when the movie drew to the end he dismissed that revelation with a brief smile and we were back to where we started. Then you would have the revelation of your own as the credits started to roll : Oh, so it's like a Samsara.
Speaking of which, the story in the story about lust and murder (or it's more like the story in the story which is in the main story) reflects my favorite quote in the movie "Samsara". In that movie, a monk succumbed to the flesh of a woman and deflected to the worldly life, and years later his dying master sent him a message: "I'm about to die. And I know I haven't achieved Nirvana in this life so I'm destined to go into Samsara and come back to this world as a new born. Maybe we should meet again, and then you can tell me, which is more fulfilling -- to satisfy a thousand desire or to conquer one."
This bad film summarily rejects the principal of sexual abstinence.
FilmCriticLalitRao9 August 2007
There is no point discussing bad films but to save other innocent viewers from the agony of senseless torture it is better if some enterprising reviews are written.This is a righteous attempt in that direction.Travellers and Magicians is a very bad film for many reasons. In Buddhism it is taught that lust for sexual relationships is a very bad sin but in Travellers and Magicians there are steamy scenes of lust.So the filmmaker is not practicing what he has been preaching to his followers.Khyntse Norbu worked with Bertolucci on his film "The Last Emperorer".It is only on that basis and nothing else that he is seeking fame.What a selfish act of pretentiousness.The worst thing about this film is that it is unable to stand on its own save for the crutches of exoticism.If we remove these scenes from this film than it would be nothing more than a visual story book.This film can only be liked by people who are fed up of their own lives, own circumstances and own religion.
Simple Buddhists wisdom express with lots of beauty!
londhen29 August 2007
A friend of mine from Bhutan borrowed this movie to me. Yes "borrowed"... not given to me, after all it is such a lovely movie to add it on your collection. Though Bhutan is not known for movie making and all, but this will surely leave a question in your head and you are sure going to say..."WOW, NOT BAD AT ALL". I must say that this movie is far better than thousands of Bollywood movies. The direction is superb and the cinematic beauties of Bhutan added a lot of charismatic on this film. All the actors really acted well, realistic down to the core. I really love this movie, the way it unwinds the story, and the way the characters enter story is awesome. The little of humors here and there adds lots of value to it. And not to forget, the utterance of wisdoms by the monk are so realistic that one will surely illuminate his or her ignorance. A must watch movie for those who love "good movie". Thumps up and hats off to the team.
Reality Revisted
OutsideHollywoodLand2 February 2010
Dondup: "I'm going very, very far away. To the land of my dreams. That's where I'm going." The Monk: "To a dreamland? You should be careful with dreamlands. Because... when you wake up, if may not be very pleasant." Imagine living in a cramped little village – a provincial town, surrounded my mountains and mundane neighbors, who are all content with their quiet, predictable life - except you. Now you know what's really going on, because you're hip and happening and ready to get out of Dodge, so to speak.
Travelers & Magicians is part fable and part parable, a quiet koan * that highlights the equally ancient proverb of "The grass is always greener on the other side". Dondup (played by Tsewang Dandup) is a minor village official, where the farmers and townspeople all seem too aware of his angst. Maybe it's his chain-smoking that gives him away, or his cramped room, bedecked with western posters, or the way he desperately clings to his boom box.
Events appear to work in his favor, giving him a chance to escape his dead-end life and travel to America. He must journey through Bhutan, a convoluted trip of walking and hitchhiking, where he meets a few characters along the way. One of his fellow travelers is a Buddhist monk (played by Sonan Kinga), who gently pokes fun at our hapless hero. He entertains the travelers with a tale of another young man, eager for freedom from his own humdrum life. This parallel tale drives home the simple truth that happiness is found from within, if only we have the courage to take that journey.
A fine cast, directed by Khyentse Norbu, himself a Buddhist monk, tells the story (from his own screenplay) with a generous sprinkling of humor and understanding. One defining moment shows Dondup standing defiantly on a winding road, with his boom box blaring its harsh New World message against a tranquil backdrop that literally has no need for such artifice.
Food for thought... * Koan – A startling question posed by the teacher to the student, for the purpose of meditation and enlightenment.
Traveller – The British form for "traveler", not to be confused with Irish "travellers".
Travelers & Magicians is part fable and part parable, a quiet koan * that highlights the equally ancient proverb of "The grass is always greener on the other side". Dondup (played by Tsewang Dandup) is a minor village official, where the farmers and townspeople all seem too aware of his angst. Maybe it's his chain-smoking that gives him away, or his cramped room, bedecked with western posters, or the way he desperately clings to his boom box.
Events appear to work in his favor, giving him a chance to escape his dead-end life and travel to America. He must journey through Bhutan, a convoluted trip of walking and hitchhiking, where he meets a few characters along the way. One of his fellow travelers is a Buddhist monk (played by Sonan Kinga), who gently pokes fun at our hapless hero. He entertains the travelers with a tale of another young man, eager for freedom from his own humdrum life. This parallel tale drives home the simple truth that happiness is found from within, if only we have the courage to take that journey.
A fine cast, directed by Khyentse Norbu, himself a Buddhist monk, tells the story (from his own screenplay) with a generous sprinkling of humor and understanding. One defining moment shows Dondup standing defiantly on a winding road, with his boom box blaring its harsh New World message against a tranquil backdrop that literally has no need for such artifice.
Food for thought... * Koan – A startling question posed by the teacher to the student, for the purpose of meditation and enlightenment.
Traveller – The British form for "traveler", not to be confused with Irish "travellers".
Another road to the summit where the view is the same for all.
bnash2914 February 2005
Truly remarkable and moving movie.
" Wherever you go there you are" seems to prevail as the Bhuddist philosophy.
A movie that has a story within a story "looking within" as it were.
The scenery is magnificent and it is a "breath of fresh air" as it
cascades out of the screen to freshen your body , soul and mind.
A remarkable picture since it was not made in Hollywood or Bollywood
but within the remarkable nation of "Bhutan" showing truly
"breathtaking vistas" that easily eclipse "Kashmir" "Tibet".
The characters are as enduring as the landscape. The great beauty of this movie is within us all.
" Wherever you go there you are" seems to prevail as the Bhuddist philosophy.
A movie that has a story within a story "looking within" as it were.
The scenery is magnificent and it is a "breath of fresh air" as it
cascades out of the screen to freshen your body , soul and mind.
A remarkable picture since it was not made in Hollywood or Bollywood
but within the remarkable nation of "Bhutan" showing truly
"breathtaking vistas" that easily eclipse "Kashmir" "Tibet".
The characters are as enduring as the landscape. The great beauty of this movie is within us all.
Beautiful movie with a message
Andy-29631 December 2015
In Travellers and Magicians, Bhutanese director Khyentse Norbu (The Cup) tells us two parallel stories that deliver one message - happiness is usually found in the simpler things in life.
The protagonist of this gentle film is a man called Dondup, a young, highly Westernized civil servant, who works in a small village in the Himalayas and dreams of migrating to America (as indication of his westernization, we see him listening to rock music in a portable stereo). One day, he receives a long expected letter, indicating a visa to the US is waiting for him in the Bhutanese capital of Thimbu. Unfortunately, he just misses the bus (which appears in the village only sporadically) so he decides to hitchhike to the capital. Along the road, he meets people representing a simpler side of life: an apple seller, a Buddhist monk, and a maker of traditional rice paper and his beautiful teenage daughter.
To pass the time, the monk starts telling the group a story, which is the framework for the film's second, parallel story: a fugitive finds refuge in a remote forest, in the house of an elderly woodcutter. The woodcutter has a far younger wife, to which the fugitive starts feeling increasingly attracted, and this attraction is reciprocated by her. The fugitive's attraction for the woodcutter's daughter is the mirror of the increasing feelings of Dondup towards the paper maker's daughter in the first story. Eventually, Dondup will realize that the simpler things in life are usually the best ones.
The protagonist of this gentle film is a man called Dondup, a young, highly Westernized civil servant, who works in a small village in the Himalayas and dreams of migrating to America (as indication of his westernization, we see him listening to rock music in a portable stereo). One day, he receives a long expected letter, indicating a visa to the US is waiting for him in the Bhutanese capital of Thimbu. Unfortunately, he just misses the bus (which appears in the village only sporadically) so he decides to hitchhike to the capital. Along the road, he meets people representing a simpler side of life: an apple seller, a Buddhist monk, and a maker of traditional rice paper and his beautiful teenage daughter.
To pass the time, the monk starts telling the group a story, which is the framework for the film's second, parallel story: a fugitive finds refuge in a remote forest, in the house of an elderly woodcutter. The woodcutter has a far younger wife, to which the fugitive starts feeling increasingly attracted, and this attraction is reciprocated by her. The fugitive's attraction for the woodcutter's daughter is the mirror of the increasing feelings of Dondup towards the paper maker's daughter in the first story. Eventually, Dondup will realize that the simpler things in life are usually the best ones.
SPELLBOUND
MadamWarden9 October 2020
This is the second Bhutanese movie I have seen. I love simple elegance of the acting, stories and cinematography. The story is about two journeys and yet the movie itself is a journey. You don't really go anywhere but you are infused with the spirituality and beauty of Bhutan and it's people along the way.
A lovely little movie.
A lovely little movie.
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