IMDb RATING
7.5/10
8K
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An aspiring singer living with his grandmother in the capital of Bhutan dreams of getting a visa to move to Australia.An aspiring singer living with his grandmother in the capital of Bhutan dreams of getting a visa to move to Australia.An aspiring singer living with his grandmother in the capital of Bhutan dreams of getting a visa to move to Australia.
- Director
- Writer
- Stars
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 20 wins & 10 nominations total
Tshering Zangmo
- PA to the Secretary
- (as Tshering Zam)
- Director
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Featured reviews
Just keep a gopro on anyone who is going to Lunana and you will get the entire scene, dialogue and emotion. The film is so real and well done. Overall an excellent movie.
Most of the extra hospitality shown by the people of Lunana may not be convincing for the people from outside, but its true: thats the way it is, the people in the villages are so welcoming and the movie shows it very well. From time to time, many teachers from India was working in some of these remote places of Bhutan. Many who returned were fed-up with the city life in India or outside and then went back.
In 2018 Indian teachers who worked in Bhutan were invited for a reception program in Kolkatta, India and Thimpu and HM thanked all of them personally. Many of the first set of teachers, who worked for more than 30 years in remote Bhutan were filled with tears bringing back the emotional connection between them and the villagers. A video which was played during the session in which the real hurdle of reaching some of the remote places was shown.. How they walked for days to reach some of these remote places. This element of emotion and hardship was much more intense.
Yes, actually the people in these villages are happy. May be the length could have been cut down a little to remove some of the cliche.
Must watch movie. Hope it reaches the OTT platforms soon.
Most of the extra hospitality shown by the people of Lunana may not be convincing for the people from outside, but its true: thats the way it is, the people in the villages are so welcoming and the movie shows it very well. From time to time, many teachers from India was working in some of these remote places of Bhutan. Many who returned were fed-up with the city life in India or outside and then went back.
In 2018 Indian teachers who worked in Bhutan were invited for a reception program in Kolkatta, India and Thimpu and HM thanked all of them personally. Many of the first set of teachers, who worked for more than 30 years in remote Bhutan were filled with tears bringing back the emotional connection between them and the villagers. A video which was played during the session in which the real hurdle of reaching some of the remote places was shown.. How they walked for days to reach some of these remote places. This element of emotion and hardship was much more intense.
Yes, actually the people in these villages are happy. May be the length could have been cut down a little to remove some of the cliche.
Must watch movie. Hope it reaches the OTT platforms soon.
Such a simple movie plot of a young teacher who questions if he wants to stay a teacher or emigrate to Australia.
He is sent for his final service year to the highlands of Bhutan to teach in a village who have no electricity or even a blackboard in the school, yet the spirit of the villagers is so honourable and so thankful for what they have it is a pleasure to see how the community thrives and looks after each other.
The kids in the movie are real highlanders and had never seen a camera before this movie was made.
It is a fantastic insight into the human spirit.
A total joy to watch, this is one for an Oscar award.
See for yourself.
He is sent for his final service year to the highlands of Bhutan to teach in a village who have no electricity or even a blackboard in the school, yet the spirit of the villagers is so honourable and so thankful for what they have it is a pleasure to see how the community thrives and looks after each other.
The kids in the movie are real highlanders and had never seen a camera before this movie was made.
It is a fantastic insight into the human spirit.
A total joy to watch, this is one for an Oscar award.
See for yourself.
This simple but delightful tale, of a young teacher in the Bhutanese capital who dreams of emigrating to Australia who is reluctantly and unexpectedly sent to the high mountains area to teach in a remote tiny village school is both unusual and also a true story. It's a terrific feel good experience with I think a broad audience appeal which gives a real insight into Bhutanese life and transports its audience somewhere pretty extraordinary. It is a slow and considered film and it takes its time, but I was engrossed and lost in the place and landscape and ended up thoroughly enjoying the experience. The film is not going to set the world alight, but in its own quiet way it's a fine achievement.
Oscar nominee for International Film. Pawo Choyning Dorji's debut tells the universal story of a teacher sent to a tiny village to educate the local children. Sherab Dorji is Ugyen, a twenty-something who lives in Bhutan's capitol of Thimphu when he is dispatched to distant Lunana - population 56, and, with very limited electricity. It's considered so isolated that the school is referred to as the most remote in the world.
Dorji, who also wrote the screenplay, keeps things simple. There are no grand gestures or revelations, just Ugyen interacting with the locals. The theme of making a connection with the schoolkids may be plain to see (and, of course, it works vice-versa), but, it's done in a soulful way with no cloying or artificial drama injected into the mix. It's very lack of pretentiousness is its charm.
And, yes, there IS a Yak who lives in the makeshift classroom. All the more appropriate since the unofficial Lunana song is a paean to yaks.
Dorji, who also wrote the screenplay, keeps things simple. There are no grand gestures or revelations, just Ugyen interacting with the locals. The theme of making a connection with the schoolkids may be plain to see (and, of course, it works vice-versa), but, it's done in a soulful way with no cloying or artificial drama injected into the mix. It's very lack of pretentiousness is its charm.
And, yes, there IS a Yak who lives in the makeshift classroom. All the more appropriate since the unofficial Lunana song is a paean to yaks.
Bhutan!
My first film that talks about this country and I must say that it was quite captivating to listen and watch the people from this remote place:)
Albeit their claim of fame is how happy they are, at least at the official levels, the movies shows the regular life of villagers and city folks: not as happy as they say.
Love, community life, family , are all universal expressions that have been captured countless times in movies, but the unique setting of this particular movie, combined with a very unique culture, make this endeavor stand out!
Again, nothing ground-breaking here, but just a very enjoyable, well made movie.
Did you know
- TriviaAll the actors in Lunana are highlanders, many of whom had never seen the outside world. They had never seen a movie, and had never seen cameras before. It was the also the first time they were using toothpaste.
- Quotes
Ugyen Dorji: Will the walk up be hard?
Michen: It will be easy. It will be a stroll along the river for the first six days. Then there is a little climb. As we reach up there, the walk is so nice. You will wish it never ends.
- SoundtracksMy Home
Hu Shuai
- How long is Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official sites
- Languages
- Also known as
- Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross worldwide
- $1,990,014
- Runtime
- 1h 50m(110 min)
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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