Title of film : Lunana- A Yak in the Classroom
Director Name : Pawo Choyning Dorji
Cast & crew :
Producer : Fan Yuin Lai
Editor : Ku Hsiao Yun
Cast :
Synopsis : Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom was shot on location in the world's most remote school, the Lunana School; which is located in the Himalayan glaciers, an 8-day trek from the nearest motor able road. Due to the remoteness and lack of facilities of the principal location, the film was shot on solar energy. The film features local highlanders, many of whom had never seen the modern world outside their village, in leading roles. A young teacher in modern Bhutan, Ugyen, shirks his duties while planning to go to Australia to become a singer. As a reprimand, his superiors send him to the most remote school in the world, a village called Lunana, to complete his service. He finds himself exiled from his Westernized comforts after an arduous 8 day trek just to get there. There he finds no electricity, no textbooks, not even a blackboard. Though poor, the villagers extend a warm welcome to their new teacher, but he faces the daunting task of teaching the village children without any supplies. He wants to quit and go home, but he begins to learn of the hardship in the lives of the beautiful children he teaches, and begins to be transformed through the amazing spiritual strength of the villagers.
Director Bio : Pawo Choyning Dorji is a film maker, writer and photographer from the Kingdom of Bhutan. Pawo's introduction to film making came in 2012 when we worked as Khyentse Norbu's assistant for the later's feature film; Vara: A Blessing. Pawo would go on to be the Producer of the critically acclaimed Bhutanese feature film; Hema Hema: Sing me a song while I wait (2016). The film would have it's world premiere at the 69th Festival del film Locarno, and would win the Special Mention at the Platforms Competition at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival. Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom is Pawo's Directorial debut. He is also the Writer and Producer of the film.
Filmography :
