“Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom”

Movie Review

Pawp Choyning Dorji makes his feature film directorial debut with Lunana: A Yak in the School, a 2019 drama film from Bhutan. The following summarizes the film's plot; Ugyen has finished four of the five years of training that are necessary to become a government teacher. He wants to relocate to Australia to pursue a singing career because he dislikes teaching. When he is asked to teach in the isolated mountain village of Lunana, he thinks about leaving his profession, but his grandmother begs him to finish the work. He makes the decision to leave the city and take it. A village guide named Michen introduces Ugyen to the dangerous trail leading to Lunana. The locals welcome him with enthusiasm, but Ugyen expresses sorrow for coming after seeing the village's dire conditions and requests to be brought back. The village chief, Asha, tells him that Ugyen can be taken back in a few days since the mules need time to recuperate. The following morning, Pem Zam, the class captain, wakes up Ugyen and informs him that the kids are waiting for him in the classroom. The children think instructors can "guide one to the proper path," thus Ugyen is surprised by their admiration for him. He makes the decision to continue teaching for the rest of the year.

The following day, Ugyen comes to the classroom more prepared to instruct, and to make up for the lack of a chalkboard, he improvises by using charcoal to write directly on the wall. Later, Michen builds him a temporary blackboard. As the students run out of writing materials, Ugyen sacrifices the paper covering his windows as part of his ongoing effort to improve the classroom. He soon wins the hearts of the kids by singing and playing his guitar while instructing them in math, English, and Dzongkha. They are upset to find that Ugyen intends to leave when winter arrives and never come back.

Saldon, Asha's niece, is singing a traditional song on top of a hill when Ugyen meets her later. She explains to him that she sings it every day as a gift to the community, and he asks her to teach it to him. They meet every day, and he gradually picks up the song's singing technique. According to her, poem is titled Yak Lebi Lhadar and was written by a local yak herder who complained about having to kill his favorite yak for the benefit of the community. Later, Saldon gives Ugyen a yak named Norbu so he can make fires with its manure. Norbu becomes a regular in the kids' sessions as a result of Ugyen's need to keep him in the classroom due to the cold.

Ugyen is informed by Asha that winter is coming and that he needs to depart before the pass is completely covered in snow. He requests that Ugyen return the following spring, but is disappointed when Ugyen replies that he plans to permanently depart Bhutan. He tells Saldon the news and assures her that a better teacher will be arriving in the spring, but Saldon responds that only the kids can decide that, and they all adore Ugyen. She dreams of the day when he will return and perform Yak Lebi Lhadar for her.

The villagers bid Ugyen a tearful goodbye before he departs from Lunana. Saldon presents him a scarf, and Pem Zam gives him a letter from all the kids. After he leaves, Asha sings Yak Lebi Lhadar, and Michen tells Ugyen that Asha is the author of the song. Ugyen later reads the children's letter, in which they express gratitude and call him their favorite teacher while pleading with him to come back in the spring. Ugyen makes a halt at a shrine on his way down the mountain, where he makes an offering for safe travel and declares his intention to come again. Traveling to Australia, Ugyen performs in a bar, but no one seems to notice him. He pauses the music and begins singing Yak Lebi Lhadar to the audience's astonishment.

During the 2020 Palm Springs International Film Festival, the movie took home the Best of the Fest and Audience Choice Awards for Best Feature Film. The movie won the Lessinia d'Oro Award for Best Film of the Festival at the 26th Film Festival della Lessinia in Italy, as well as the Giuria Microcosmo del carcere di Verona Prize and a Special Mention in the Log to Green Award. The movie earned the Prix du Public at the Saint-Jean-de-Luz International Film Festival in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France, and Sherab Dorji won the Best Actor prize for his portrayal of Ugyen Dorji.

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