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Travellers and Magicians (2003)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writer:
Khyentse Norbu (writer)
Release Date:
21 April 2004 (France)
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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...
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Awards:
2 wins
&
1 nomination
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User Comments:
A Beautiful & Spiritual Film
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Cast
(Credited 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 | |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Travelers and Magicians (USA)
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Parents Guide:
Runtime:
108 min
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Australia:PG |
South Korea:12 |
Singapore:PG |
Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) |
Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) |
Mexico:B
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
First film to be shot in Bhutan, the Himalayan nation/kingdom that was prototype for Lost Horizon (1937).
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Quotes:
Movie Connections:
Featured in "Getaway: (#15.37)" (2006)
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FAQ
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Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Travellers and Magicians (2003)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
|---|---|
| Mystery of Deki | mecha_radicalstar |
| i'm surprised it didnt get enough attention. | GreenIsTheColor |
| Great movie | rubensgram |
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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.