Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom – A Himalayan Film Inspiring Women Filmmakers

Bhutan’s only film to be nominated for the Oscars, ‘Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom’, continues to receive appreciation and accolades globally. The film, directed by Bhutanese filmmaker Pawo Choyning Dorji, has won 20 awards and 10 nominations at various film festivals worldwide. It has been released in the UK and is receiving excellent reviews.

The film’s director, Pawo Choyning Dorji, is the youngest recipient of Bhutan’s highest civilian award, the Druk Thuksey. The film has put the remote village of Lunana and Bhutan’s concept of ‘Gross National Happiness’ on the world map. It is expected to provide a boost to the tourism industry of the country, with more people from the West wanting to travel to the remote parts of Bhutan and appreciating the idea behind ‘high-value low volume’ tourism.

The film’s story is set in Lunana, a remote village in the Gasa district. It follows the journey of Ugyen, a young teacher from Bhutan’s capital, Thimphu, who is posted to Bhutan’s remotest school. Ugyen’s initial desire to go to Australia to follow his passion for singing soon transforms as he encounters a community living in less than ideal conditions, yet exemplifying Bhutan’s official ideal of increasing “Gross National Happiness.”

As a young filmmaker from Bhutan, Pawo Choyning Dorji’s victory at various film festivals has inspired many Himalayan filmmakers. Dorji hopes to inspire more filmmakers from the region with his win. The film has been listed as one of the most loved films of 2022 on film rating sites like Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb.

Staff Reporter