Travellers and Magicians (2003)

Director:

Khyentse Norbu

Writer:

Khyentse Norbu (writer)

Release Date:

21 April 2004 (France)

Genre:

Drama | Adventure

Tagline:

The bitter and the sweet of temporary things

Plot:

The two men embark on parallel, if separate, journeys. Their yearning is a common one--for a better and different life...

Plot Keywords:

Monk | Bhutan | Story In Story | Buddhist | Road Trip

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Tsewang Dandup	...	Dondup
Sonam Lhamo	...	Sonam
Lhakpa Dorji	...	Tashi
Deki Yangzom	...	Deki
Sonam Kinga	...	The Monk
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dorji Budha	...	Villager of Chendebaji
Sanga Budha	...	Villager of Chendebaji
Sumcho Budha	...	Kinzang Wangchuk
Nim Buthri	...	Villager of Chendebaji
Aum Chenzom	...	Girl in Field
Sonam Choepel	...	Magic Student
Neten Chokling	...	Bus Driver
Lam Dawup	...	Magic Student
Chhmi Dem	...	Villager of Chendebaji
Kinzang Dem	...	Villlager of Chendebaji
Phub Dem	...	Villager of Chendebaji
Phuchu Dem	...	Villager of Chendebaji
Thinley Dem	...	Villager of Chendebaji
Lama Yeshi Dendup	...	Magic Student
Ap Dochu	...	Appleman
Phunstsho Domia	...	Phallus Handlers
Dechen Dorjee	...	Drunk Man
Namgay Dorjee	...	Karma
Donam Dorji	...	Sedan Passenger
Goley Dorji	...	Villlager of Chendebji
Mani Dorji	...	Archer
Pelden Dorji	...	Magic Student
Pem Dorji	...	Archer
Phub Dorji	...	Villager of Chendebji
Samdrup Dorji	...	Tata Truck Driver
Tshering Dorji	...	Postmaster
Ugyen Dorji	...	Villager of Chendebaji
Dasho Yeshi Droji	...	Phallus Handlers
Jigme Drukpa	...	Phunsok
Gup Kado Duba	...	Squinting Man
Gangchu	...	Villager of Chendebaji
Gurula	...	Post Runner
Venerable Lungtaen Gyatso	...	Magic Teacher
Nim Gyeltshen	...	Archer
Aum Daw Gyem	...	Girl in Field
Gyemo	...	Villager of Chendebaji
Phub Gyem	...	Villager of Chendebaji
Thinley Gyem	...	Villager of Chendebaji
Lt. Col. Dasho Kado	...	Village Head
Karma	...	Tenzin Wangmo
Dasho Bato Karp	...	Farmer
Kinlem	...	Villager of Chendebaji
Choki Lahm	...	Villager of Chendebaji
Lemo	...	Villager of Chendebaji
Kelzang Lhadon	...	Girl in Field
Sangay Lhamo	...	Villager of Chendebaji
Tenzing Lham	...	Villager of Chendebaji
Tshoki Lham	...	Nidup Lham
Lungten	...	Bus Passenger
Apa Mindu	...	Tractor Operator
Nimchu	...	Villager of Chendebaji
Kezang Norbu	...	Sedan Driver
Mangi Ap Norbu	...	Archer
Sonam Norbu	...	Villager of Chendebaji
Tadin Norbu	...	Tractor Passenger
Tandin Norbu	...	Sonam Norbu
Wandchuk Norbu	...	Villager of Chendebaji
Khandu Om	...	Ugyen Dorji
Sithar Om	...	Villager of Chendebaji
Pelzang	...	Villager of Chendebaji
Dorji Pem	...	Villager of Chendebaji
Gomchen Penjore	...	Agay
Sithay Pern	...	Phub Dern
Ugyen Pern	...	Tobgayla
Tsampa Tshering Phuntsho	...	Magic Student
Rinzinia	...	Villager of Chendebaji
Phub Rinzin	...	Villager of Chendebaji
Dasho Adab Sangye	...	Sonam's Father
Phub Sangye	...	Villager of Chendebaji
Karma Sherub	...	Bus Passenger
Chogye Sithup	...	Villager of Chendebaji
Sumcho	...	Villager of Chendebaji
Sumda	...	Villager of Chendebji
Dophu Tashi	...	Nim Buthri
Nim Tashi	...	Archer
Gyem Tenzin	...	Villager of Chendebaji
Phub Thinley	...	Phallus Singer
Tenzin Thinley	...	Magic Student
Pemba Tshering	...	Archer
Ugyen Tshomo	...	Beetlenut Lady
Villagers of Chendebji	...	Phallus Handlers
Kinzang Wanchuk	...	Villager of Chendebaji
Pema Wangchuck	...	Bus Passenger
Wangchuk	...	Archer
Jigme Wangchuk	...	Bus Passenger
Ugyen Wangchuk	...	Tractor Driver
Kencho Wangmo	...	Villager of Chendebaji
Kezang Wangmo	...	Pelzang
Kinzang Wangmo	...	Thinley Dern
Sangay Wangmo	...	Phub Gyem
Taza Wangmo	...	Phuchu Dern
Tenzin Wangmo	...	Villager of Chendebaji
Thinley Wangmo	...	Villlager of Chendebaji
Tshering Wangmo	...	Villager of Chendebaji
Tshering Yangchen	...	Village Lady
Karma Yangki	...	Rice Girl
Chhimi Zam	...	Villager of Chendebaji
Dorji Zam	...	Gangchu
Kinley Zam	...	Villager of Chendebaji
Norbu Zangmo	...	Pem Dorji
Tendi Zangmo	...	Girl in Field

Also Known As:

Travelers and Magicians (USA)

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

Australia | Bhutan

Language:

Dzongkha

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:PG | South Korea:12 | Singapore:PG | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Mexico:B

Filming Locations:

Bhutan

Company:

Prayer Flag Pictures

Trivia:

First film to be shot in Bhutan, the Himalayan nation/kingdom that was prototype for Lost Horizon (1937).

Quotes:

Drunk Man: So, where are you and your friends going?
The Monk: [pointing to the appleman] Well, he and I, to Thimphu.
[pointing to Dondup]
The Monk: That one, to a dreamland.
Drunk Man: A dreamland? I want to go too.
The Monk: Looks like you're already there.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Getaway: (#15.37)" (2006)

A Beautiful & Spiritual Film

The second film from Buddhist director Khyentse Norbu (his first film is 1999's "The Cup", "Travellers & Magicians" is a beautiful, funny, spiritual and understated piece of cinema. The film involves two stories about two men, both on very similar journeys in very different worlds, with two very different outcomes.

Dondup (Tshewang Dendup) is an important chief officer in a remote village in the Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan, but soon realizes that he can not stay there his whole life and longs to travel to his dreamland called America. He would rather see himself picking apples in the U.S. than live a mundane life in his village. And so he begins his journey, hitchhiking his way closer to his dreamland. On the way he meets a feisty monk (played by a funny Sonam Kinga), an old apple seller, and a paper maker & his young daughter Sonam, whom Dondup slowly begins to grow an attraction for.

During the journey, the monk tells Dondup and the group an old fable that parallel's Dondup's journey and quest for a better, more exciting life. The film then inter-cuts back and forth from Dondup's story to Tashi's story. Tashi (played by the charismatic Lhakpa Dorji) is a restless farm boy studying magic, who dreams of one day leaving his boring village. While having lunch with his younger brother, he unexpectedly embarks on a journey of his own where he meets an old recluse named Agay (Gomchen Penjore) and his beautiful, and much younger, wife Deki (Deki Yangzom). Soon, Tashi falls in love with Deki and soon they begin a secret affair. Here, the film turns almost noirish.

As the monk concludes Tashi's fable, Dondup is left with a dilemma — is the grass truly greener on the other side?

This film was the first feature to be made in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan and was shot entirely in the Dzongkha dialect, which is the official language of Bhutan. Because few of the cast spoke this new language, most had to be taught by a dialect coach on-set. The cast does a terrific job and the performances are all excellent...all very natural. The standouts in the film are Tshewang Dendup and Lahakpa Dorji, the two protagonists. Though they go on similar journeys, both exemplify different personalities and both actors successfully establish their characters as human...likable yet flawed. My only complaint is that both their characters don't fully come to a full arc, more so for Dondup's character. Though i'm sure Norbu intended the audience to make their own conclusion to Dondup's journey of discovery. I think maybe Norbu created such great, dynamic characters, I didn't want their stories to end. I wanted to continue riding along on their journeys, curious to see what happens next.

The cinematography is stunning and Alan Kozlowski does a wonderful job at contrasting the different looks of Dondup's story and Tashi's cautionary tale. Dondup's world is a natural canvas that showcases the beautiful scenery of the Bhutan landscape. Tashi's world is darker and mystical, shot with dark blues and greens and soft lighting. The final scene at the creek of Tashi's story is absolutely breathtaking.

Highly recommended.