Review: 'The Monk and the Gun' - funniest & best film this year is a Bhutanese satire on democracy & violence

The Monk and the Gun

I did not go into The Monk and the Gun expecting to be laughing as much as I did. At its outset, the film is a satirical take on democracy, violence and just general human behavior - when you have subject matter like this, 'funny' isn't the first thing that you expect to be the emotion coming out of it. However, the subtlety in which The Monk and the Gun showcases a huge political occurrence and its impact on the country of Bhutan makes it one of the finest films of this year and one of the finest ones of all time as well. The film won the Audience Award at the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2023, and having had the chance to see it, here's what I thought about it further-

Fighting With Change, But Do We Need it?

The film begins in 2006 in the kingdom of Bhutan, where people have been used to having his majesty for such a long time but are now going through a huge change as it has been announced that there will be general elections soon and people will have a vote in the same. These are concepts that have been entirely alien to the loving inhabitants there - they don't know what is an election or what voting is - some even don't understand why is there a change happening. But none of this is shown to be in any negative light and instead divided into parallel storylines. People are living well even though it means with meagre means. When a guy brings in a new TV set, it is a celebratory occasion, and even though they have normal emotions just like any of us, which include jealousy, sorrow or happiness - it almost seems like there is no malice. 

The situations and the storylines are expertly written and performed, and even though the language isn't something you understand, the subtitles do a fantastic job of conveying what is being said. People finding elections stupid, having absolutely no idea what guns can potentially lead to, objecting to the election committee but still living a calm and peaceful life- this is all portrayed with a sense of purity, subtlety and, of course, hilarity.

The Monk, The Foreigner, The Purpose and The Gun

The situation keeps getting funnier and funnier when you see Master Tashi carrying a rare antique US Civil War rifle rather casually to his Lama, who has a specific reason for asking for it. The foreigner, having arrived from the USA, understands what the gun is worth and hopes to buy it from the monk. That doesn't quite happen, and it leads to a comedy of errors of sorts where there are now three guns in question. The only difference is - the motives of both sides. The satirical take on gun culture in the USA, the want for nothing but peace and prosperity in Bhutan and the scepticism to change - these things are blended so beautifully that it has you adoring and enjoying each and every scene more and more. The climax involving a special ritual in Bhutan is now one of the funniest ones you'll ever see owing to just what happens to the aforementioned USA visitor, his tourist guide, Benji, who is also a local man but more 'modern' than the people.

The Monk and the Gun gives out a message but without being preachy or forceful. There is always going to be a general inhibition towards change, especially when it involves the entire country, but in that process, if innocence and basic humanity are lost, it is never worth it.

The Verdict

The Monk and the Gun ends as subtly as you would imagine it to do so, but after that happens, some important information begins flashing, and they speak volumes about the country of Bhutan. In spite of the initial hurdles, Bhutan accepted modernization, and in 2008, it established a parliamentary government with an elected National Assembly and a National Council. Since then, it has continued to be one of the most peaceful countries to live in. What can be easily missed amid all this messaging is just how beautifully the frames of Bhutan have been captured in the film as well, which only adds to the mood and setting even more. Easily the best film I have seen at the MAMI Film Festival and one of the best this year. 

Rating - ****1/2 (4.5/5)