98. Lunana: A Yak In The Classroom; movie review

 

LUNANA: A YAK IN THE CLASSROOM

Cert PG

109 mins

BBFC advice: Contains infrequent mild bad language

I have just spun back through the 12 years of everyfilm.co.uk and discovered this is only the second time I have reviewed a movie set in Bhutan.

And what a pleasure Lunana: A Yak In the Classroom is - a gentle, loving tale set high in the far north of the tiny Himalayan state.

Its focus is Ugyen (Sherab Dorji), a disenchanted young teacher who is desperate to end his government service so he can leave the country which, ironically, prides itself on being labelled the happiest on earth.

Much to his dismay, his final posting is to Lunana, an eight-day trek from the nearest town.

When he arrives, he is even more downhearted - discovering a small yak-herding community and a one-room school, lacking electricity or even a blackboard.

However, what Lunana needs in mod-cons, it makes up for in its scenery and the charm and respect of its people.

Pawo Choyning Dorji's film has an extraordinary backdrop with huge snow-covered mountains framing many scenes.

It also offers a rare insight into the daily existence of people largely untouched by technological developments.

In Lunana, there is a common understanding and joy in the little things. The teacher is welcomed with incredible warmth by adults and the children who are especially charming.

And then there are the yaks!

Consequently, Ugyen surprises himself by warming to the job and his new friends and faces a tough decision over whether to leave at the end of his contract or stay with these uncomplicated, loving folk.

Lunana: A Yak In The Classroom is Bhutan's first Oscar nomination and I can see why.

Reasons to watch: Charming and rare movie from Bhutan

Reasons to avoid: Not much action

Laughs: Two

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 8/10

Did you know? Bhutan had a population of 777,486 people in 2021. Bhutan has a median age of 24.8 years. There are 1,070 males for every 1,000 females. The literacy rate in Bhutan is 59.5 per cent.

The final word. Pawo Choyning Dorji: "Bhutan is supposedly the world’s happiest country. But what does it really entail to be happy? For that matter are the Bhutanese really that happy?" 

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