Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom (2019)
MOVIE REVIEW
This is a heart-warming and beguiling movie in a way that would be hard to believe, unless you actually watch it.
On the face of it, there is nothing that might give a clue as to the movie’s charm. It is from a country- Bhutan- not known for its cinematic output. The plot is straightforward, familiar and predictable. It centres on a young primary school teacher who reluctantly takes on an assignment in a remote village that eventually changes his perspective on life. There are no extraordinary stylistic choices made. Add to that, most of the roles are portrayed by non-actors. There is also the fact that yaks- not the most cinematically appealing of creatures- are frequently referenced, and one yak in particular- though not particularly interesting- has a fair bit of screen time.
The reason the movie works is because, at its heart, it taps into the fundamental power of cinema to transform what is simple and sincere into something magical. It is a movie that is so much more than the sum of its parts.