Emerging Director Award
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Travellers and Magicians2004
Khyentse Norbu’s follow-up to his audience favorite THE CUP is the first feature film ever shot in the tiny kingdom of Bhutan. One of Himalayan Buddhism’s most revered lamas, Khyentse (aka Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche) weaves parallel fable-like tales about two men who seek to escape their mundane lives in TRAVELLERS & MAGICIANS. Young government official Dondup dreams of escaping to America while stuck in a ravishingly beautiful but isolated village. When the first chance arrives, he immediately heads for town and an awaiting visa but things don't go quite as planned. Missing the bus, he hitchhikes with an elderly apple seller, a sage young mon and an old man travelling with his beautiful daughter Sonam. Along the way, the perceptive yet mischievous monk tells Dondup a story of another young man who sought a land far away: a tale of lust, jealousy and murder that holds up a mirror to the restless Dondup and his blossoming attraction to the innocent Sonam. TRAVELLERS & MAGICIANS is a magical mixture of rustic road movie and mystical fable, a potpourri of desire and its consequences, set in a breathtaking landscape.
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2 members like this review
Travellers and Magicians, Khyentse Norbu's beautiful film shot entirely in the Himalayan mountains, tells the story of a man in search of his dreams. An officer working in a small Buddhist village dreams of going to America, where he can make "more money in half a day, than in a month, in this village". In his travels to this "dreamworld", a Monk, who is also traveling with him, tells a story of a similliar man, who also was in search of his dreamworld. Weaving two stories into one, the film attains a fairy-tale like quality, both men are in search of what they believe to be their dreamworlds, only to learn that they already have all they need to reach their "dreamworld", without having to travel across the world to find it. The cinemaphotography is beautiful, and plays a big role in this film. A beautiful tale for the whole family, with a touch of Buddism, makes this film an all out winner, and worthy of all to see. Dont miss it.
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Starring
- Neten Chokling - Bus Driver
- Tshewang Dendup - Dondup
- Lhakpa Dorji - Tashi
- Lt. Col. Dasho Kado - Village Head
- Sonam Kinga - The Monk
- Sonam Lhamo - Sonam
- Dasho Adab Sangye - Sonam's Father
- Deki Yangzom - Deki
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Member Reviews (4)
top reviewer
Travellers and Magicians, Khyentse Norbu's beautiful film shot entirely in the Himalayan mountains, tells the story of a man in search of his dreams. An officer working in a small Buddhist village dreams of going to America, where he can make "more money in half a day, than in a month, in this village". In his travels to this "dreamworld", a Monk, who is also traveling with him, tells a story of a similliar man, who also was in search of his dreamworld. Weaving two stories into one, the film attains a fairy-tale like quality, both men are in search of what they believe to be their dreamworlds, only to learn that they already have all they need to reach their "dreamworld", without having to travel across the world to find it. The cinemaphotography is beautiful, and plays a big role in this film. A beautiful tale for the whole family, with a touch of Buddism, makes this film an all out winner, and worthy of all to see. Dont miss it.
2 members like this review
To me the two stories didn't 'weave together" very well. Some strong elements in onedidn't have a counterpart in the other. I wonder if it could have been more successful as a short story. The Himalayan mountains and the incredible filming of the weather make the film worth seeing for themselves.
The
Wonderful film. I loved the seamless incorporation of thematic elements and fluid progression of the storyline. Not to mention the scenery in Bhutan is awe-inspiring! Everything is seen from villages to the deep forests. These varied regions make the film characteristic of great adventure/journey cinema. Recommended to anyone looking to vicariously experience travel and a change of scenery.. better through film than staying in dreamland ;)
- watch it to know what I mean -
good message