travellers and magicians

no.107 Travellers and Magicians

AMAZING FILM! I think it may represent Buddhism unlike any other film, then again it was written and directed by a Lama... Bhutan is a beautiful country and it's unbelievable to think that forty years ago they didn't have roads, electricity, any modern means. They still have national dress that is mandated by the government, they measure gross national happiness before product. It's a wonderful tale woven about the allure of something more and while being pulled toward that new place the final acceptance and beauty of the place you are leaving.f

I am the first person to remind that we should never judge a book by its cover. However, when it comes to film, we put that aside and take what the writer and director choose to tell us about a character as cannon; we have nothing else to base our opinions on. Dondup is painted as a self absorbed creature who has very little compassion or concern for those around him. Not caring about his responsibilities to the village or his family, purposely walking ahead of fellow travelers so that he may be the first to hitch a ride, knowingly and rudely ignoring people, not caring for his cigarette butts. Through the influence of a beautiful young girl, he starts to act more appropriately and kind, appreciate his immediate environment. At the end, he still heads off to America to full fill his dream, leaving everything behind, but somehow, we're supposed to "be okay" with this 48 hours we spent with him and realize that like a peach blossom, those 48 hours and experiences were temporary and we must accept all of this as Dondup. Maybe I'm missing something COMPLETELY, but I didn't want to like him and wipe his slate clean, a plus on the side of karma, as he laughed and was carted away to his destiny.

As for Khyentse Norbu, I had a difficult time allowing myself to understand why a spiritual leader of his stature could just take time to be a director. Yes, being "of the cloth" does not exclude you from personal endeavours, but a filmmaker? Writing, being published, yes, I see that, it's a natural extension of your teaching and wanting to share your insight with the world. Making a film is so labor intensive and would take so much time away from his real work, isn't that selfish and self gaining? Now that you are about to shoot me...I realise that film is just another medium, it could be poetry or painting. Film does allow him to get his message to many people who would not be picking up What Makes You Not A Buddhist or attend one of his schools or contribute to his non-profit. Film making is just a current and modern take on how he might share his voice, which he does so well.