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Laughter
and love in Laya |
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"Chuu..." shouts Tshomo passing a traditional wooden cup filled with water.
"Oh water," smiles Michael and takes the cup.
"Wotor?"
repeats Tshomo making a funny face. The audience roars in laughter.
The
comedy of a yak herder in Laya and an American tourist to Bhutan trying
to communicate is one of the highlights of Druk ge goem (The Guest),
the latest Bhutanese movie. |
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"The
misinterpretation of the language with funny expressions kept me glued
to the screen from the start," said Tenzin Choden, who emerged from the
hall smiling.
The
two and half hour romantic comedy introduces Michael (Michael Harris) as
a tourist from New York who gets lost on the way from Gasa to Laya.
He
meets Tshomo (Dorji Wangmo) and the romance picks up in the midst of yaks
and the isolated hills. The movie also shows glimpses of the activities
carried out by the local tourism companies.
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Many
people who watched the movie said that they were drawn to the idea of having
a foreigner in a Bhutanese movie.
The
typical Bhutanese attitude towards foreigners, age-old cultures and practices,
kindness and ignorance of remote people are brought out distinctly through
Micheal's role. |
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According
to the lead actress, Dorji Wangmo, who is also the producer and the script
writer, the romantic theme was made possible only with the introduction
of a foreigner as the lead actor.
Depicting
the unique life style of yak herders of Laya and the breathtaking landscape
and greenery of Soe-phu adds colour to the movie.
The
movie was shot in Gasa, Laya, Paro and Soe-phu over the period of five
months.
The
five songs in the movie, including a Layap song and a song in English,
has appealed to people of various age groups.
The
director and the cameraman, Kinley Dorji, said the movie was an effort
to present something new to Bhutanese moviegoers.
"Besides
entertaining, the movie is about responsibility and respect and to treat
the guests with perfect hospitality," he said.
Besides
using crane shots and sound effects, a professional cameraman from South
India was also hired, according to the director. "The cooperation of the
Layaps made the movie making very easy," said Kinley Dorji.
Contributed
by Kesang Dema, KUENSEL, Bhutan's
National Newspaper, 2006
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