Roadside Attractions unveiled the official trailer for The Monk And The Gun, the satire drama film selected as Bhutan’s Official Selection for Best International Feature at the 96th Academy Awards.

In the film, set in 2006, the Bhutanese government holds a mock election to educate the locals about democracy following the abdication of the king, while a young monk on a quest crosses paths with an American traveling to Bhutan.

Starring in the film are Tandin Wangchuk, Harry Einhorn, Choeying Jatsho, and Kelsang Choejey.

Release Date

Written and directed by Pawo Choyning Dorji, The Monk And The Gun opens in theaters with a release date of February 2, 2024

Synopsis

The Monk And The Gun captures the wonder and disruption as Bhutan becomes one of the world’s youngest democracies. Known throughout the world for its extraordinary beauty and its emphasis on Gross National Happiness, the remote Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan was the last nation to connect to the internet and television. And if that weren’t enough change, the King announced shortly afterwards that he would cede his power to the people via their vote and a new form of government: Democracy.

An elderly lama (Kelsang Choejey), recognizing that extraordinary change is about to sweep through his country, is troubled by the possible outcomes. He instructs his young disciple Tashi (Tandin Wangchuk) to set forth into the kingdom and bring him two guns before the full moon to “set it right.” The young monk is perplexed by his guru’s request, and his familiarity with guns is based solely on images from the only film available on television: James Bond. His quest brings him into contact with a scheming American gun collector Ron (Harry Einhorn), leading to a most unexpected outcome.

Reviews

Selected as the ‘critic’s pick’ in their review, Variety wrote, “What would a monk want with a gun? Bringing wisdom and a streak of wry humor to his Bhutan-set sophomore feature, “The Monk and the Gun,” director Pawo Choyning Dorji teases any number of possible answers to that question over the course of a droll, shrewdly satirical fable, in which Western values crash against a seemingly intransigent (but potentially more enlightened) South Asian culture.”

Described as ‘Feel-Good Mountain Escapade,’ in their review, The Wrap wrote, “A winding, tangled parable about modern life coming to a people that don’t understand why they can’t keep doing things the way that’s always worked for them, “The Monk and the Gun” starts with a crazy premise and quietly gets sillier and wilder. But Dorji never loses his light touch, even as you can’t help but wonder what the lama has in mind with those guns.”

Official Trailer

Watch the official trailer for The Monk And The Gun.