For Norbu, filmmaking has become his form of thangka painting
Travellers & Magicians (2005)
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Reviews Counted:56
Fresh:53
Rotten:3
Average Rating:7.4/10
Consensus: Interwined tales of spiritual discovery are set against a gorgeous, evocative landscape in this pleasant, engaging import.
Runtime: 1 hr 48 mins
Genre: Foreign Films
Synopsis: Writer-director Khyentse Norbu, who scored an international hit with the 1999 drama THE CUP (PHORPA), about Tibetan refugees obsessed with watching the World Cup soccer finals, returns to his... Writer-director Khyentse Norbu, who scored an international hit with the 1999 drama THE CUP (PHORPA), about Tibetan refugees obsessed with watching the World Cup soccer finals, returns to his homeland to make the remarkably charming and engaging TRAVELLERS & MAGICIANS, the first feature-length film to be made completely within the Kingdom of Bhutan. Norbu, who worked with Bernardo Bertolucci on 1997's LITTLE BUDDHA, is believed to be His Eminence Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche, an incarnate lama, and he infuses TRAVELLERS & MAGICIANS with a thoughtful and contemplative Buddhist mind-set. Tshewang Dendup stars as Dondup, a young, impatient cigarette smoker from the city who has stopped by the small, remote village of Chendebji on his way to America, where he can't wait to make lots of money. But as he sets out on his long journey, he misses his bus and must try to hitch a ride down the mountain on the nearly deserted roads. He is soon joined by an old apple picker (Ap Dochu), a monk who plays the dramyin (Sonam Kinga), a rice-paper maker (Dasho Adab Sangye), and the rice-paper maker's college-age daughter (Sonam Lhamo). As they wait for rides, the monk begins relating a story about a magic student, Tashi (Lhakpa Dorji), who doesn't believe in magic and would rather start making money in the corporate world. But his brother, Karma (Namgay Dorjee), who does believe, concocts a plan that soon has Tashi stranded in the middle of the forest with a bitter old man (Gomchen Penjore) and his beautiful, much-younger wife, Deki (Deki Yangzom). Norbu magnificently intertwines the two stories, creating an enchanting, unforgettable film that is filled with heart, hope, and humor. [More]
Starring: Tshewang Dendup, Ap Dochu, Sonam Kinga, Sonam Lhamo
Starring: Tshewang Dendup, Ap Dochu, Sonam Kinga, Sonam Lhamo, Dasho Adab Sangye, Lhakpa Dorji, Ngawang Dorjee, Gomchen Penjore, Deki Yangzom
Director: Khyentse Norbu
Director: Khyentse Norbu
Screenwriter: Khyentse Norbu
Producer: Jeremy Thomas, Raymond Steiner, Malcolm Watson
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Reviews for Travellers & Magicians
There is much more to Travellers & Magicians than a mere travelogue, and the journey is well worth the price of admission.
All Norbu's posturing for a greater spiritual meaning never materialized, though it still looms as an assured work.
With its spiritual underpinnings and scenic splendor, the film casts a distinctive top-of-the-world spell.
It's a disappointment to report that Bhutanese filmdom is not off to a good start.
Pretty enough, but one kind of hopes for a little magic in a movie with "magicians" in its title.
A gentle challenge to the all-American delusion that every citizen of a foreign land would be better off here.
It's a leisurely yet resonant film that reinforces the power of cinematic storytelling.
It will probably not be long remembered, but it charms and entertains in the moment, at least.
Uses a folktale or parable to impart its message about the simple pleasures in life, and it's the telling of that story that makes it watchable and worthwhile.
There may be moments where the audience feels as restless as Dondup, eager to get a move on, but by the end you'll appreciate the way [it] lingers on the little things.
The Himalayan scenery, majestic mountains, and verdant valleys are as breathtaking and well-shot as one could hope for.
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| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
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