Travellers & Magicians

[sabaijai]

This new, Buddhist-themed movie is getting rave reviews from film critics:

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IN THEATRES: JANUARY 28, 2005 (NY)

Writer-director Khyentse Norbu, who scored an international hit with the 1999 drama THE CUP (PHORPA), about Tibetan refugees obsessed with watching the World Cup soccer finals, returns to his homeland to make the remarkably charming and engaging TRAVELLERS & MAGICIANS, the first feature-length film to be made completely within the Kingdom of Bhutan. Norbu, who worked with Bernardo Bertolucci on 1997's LITTLE BUDDHA, is believed to be His Eminence Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche, an incarnate lama, and he infuses TRAVELLERS & MAGICIANS with a thoughtful and contemplative Buddhist mind-set. Tshewang Dendup stars as Dondup, a young, impatient cigarette smoker from the city who has stopped by the small, remote village of Chendebji on his way to America, where he can't wait to make lots of money. But as he sets out on his long journey, he misses his bus and must try to hitch a ride down the mountain on the nearly deserted roads. He is soon joined by an old apple picker (Ap Dochu), a monk who plays the dramyin (Sonam Kinga), a rice-paper maker (Dasho Adab Sangye), and the rice-paper maker's college-age daughter (Sonam Lhamo). As they wait for rides, the monk begins relating a story about a magic student, Tashi (Lhakpa Dorji), who doesn't believe in magic and would rather start making money in the corporate world. But his brother, Karma (Namgay Dorjee), who does believe, concocts a plan that soon has Tashi stranded in the middle of the forest with a bitter old man (Gomchen Penjore) and his beautiful, much-younger wife, Deki (Deki Yangzom). Norbu magnificently intertwines the two stories, creating an enchanting, unforgettable film that is filled with heart, hope, and humor.

PRODUCTION NOTES

On September 29, 2002, the cameras started to roll on the first feature film to be made in the pristine beauty of the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.

More than 108 cast and crew came together – from Bhutan, Australia, Germany, India, Canada and the US – to work with award-winning filmmaker Khyentse Norbu on the first feature film to be made in his homeland. The writer/director of The Cup matched experienced international film professionals with Bhutan's own budding filmmakers, giving them experience and the inspiration to produce future Bhutanese films.

As in Khyentse Norbu's first film, The Cup, no professional actors were used. The cast is drawn from across the country and include the chief regulator of the country's banking and financial institutions, a colonel in the King's Bodyguard, a monk trained in pure mathematics, a senior researcher with the government strategic planning think tank, employees of the local TV broadcasting corporation, a school principal, school children, farmers and local gomchen (householder practitioners and meditators).

Travellers & Magicians was shot entirely in the Dzongkha dialect, the official language of Bhutan. During shooting of Travellers & Magicians in the home of the casting director, the first official Dzongkha dictionary was created. As few of the cast spoke the 'new' national language, they had to be schooled by an on-set dialogue coach.

In keeping with the ways of the country, many major production decisions were determined by mo, an ancient method of divination performed by specially skilled lamas. The mo dictated principal cast, crew and even the first day of shooting.

Also in line with director Khyentse Norbu's Buddhist beliefs, special religious ceremonies known as pujas, were performed throughout the production to remove obstacles, quell local demons and increase auspiciousness.

Travellers & Magicians was shot on Kodak colour film using a Super 16mm camera package of an Aaton XTR Prod and an Aaton A-Minima (for steadycam). The negative was processed in Bangkok's leading laboratory which enabled telecine rushes to be available in good turnaround time for viewing in Bhutan. Post Production was undertaken in Australia and was the country's first fully digitally graded feature film.

[camerata]

Let's hope this one gets released on dvd soon. Something tells me it won't be playing in Bangkok cinemas.

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A cheap NTSC Region 3 DVD will be released on August 17, available from CDWOW for 490 baht, shipping free worldwide.