[Epoch Times, February 11, 2022](The Epoch Times reporter Tong Yijia reported) “Bhutan is a Classroom” directed by Bhutan’s Taiwanese son-in-law, Bawo Qiuning Dorje (Lu translation: a yak in the classroom) , was nominated for “Best International Film” at the 94th Academy Awards. On the 10th, when he and his wife Lai Fanyun attended the first press conference after the nomination in Taipei, he revealed that after his hometown of Bhutan learned the news, King Kesar Wangchuck, who was fighting the epidemic, took the time to call to congratulate him.
“Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom” is the first feature film of Pawo Choyning Dorji, the son-in-law of Taiwanese playwright Lai Shengchuan. The plot is based on a true story about a young teacher in Bhutan. Originally wanted to resign from teaching and go to Australia to realize his dream of being a singer, but was accidentally assigned to a remote Alpine Primary School.
The film was shot by Bawo Qiuning Dorje and his wife Lai Fanyun, a Taiwanese producer, in the glacier tribe at an altitude of 5,000 meters. With the film’s good reputation, the film has spread to the world, and the film was praised by the US media as “a paradise-like beauty”. Amazing beauty and kindness.” However, due to the epidemic, remote location and difficult transportation, Bawo said: “Everyone in Bhutan has seen this movie, but only the villagers in Lunana have not seen it.”
At a press conference on the 10th, Bawo Khuning Dorje revealed that his hometown, Bhutan, heard the news that “Bhutan is a Classroom” was nominated for the Oscars. Bhutan is currently under lockdown due to the epidemic. King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan, who is fighting the epidemic, took the time to call to congratulate him, saying, “This is the best gift for Bhutanese.”
When asked if he would attend the Oscars, Lai Fanyun excitedly said “certainly”, and revealed that the two children would also go there. “They said they wanted to see Doctor Strange (played by Benedict Cumberbatch) District) and Spider-Man (played by Andrew Garfield)”. As for Bawo’s father-in-law Lai Shengchuan, he spread the good news to relatives and friends privately, but he was very calm to his son-in-law and daughter, hoping not to bring pressure on them.
Bawo Khuning Dorje said that a teacher from Bhutan once told him that he wanted to quit his job and immigrate to Australia, but after reading “Bhutan is a Classroom”, he dispelled the idea. “For me, being able to change the minds of one or two teachers is more important than winning an award,” he said.
“Bhutan is a Classroom” is Bhaw Khuning Dorje’s first film and Bhutan’s first film nominated for an Oscar. This time, the film will be nominated for “Best International Film” together with Italian film “The Hand of God” (The Hand of God), Danish film “Flee”, Norwegian film “The Worst Man in the World” “(The Worst Person in the World) and the Japanese movie “Drive My Car”. The winner will be announced on March 27 at the 94th Academy Awards held at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, California, on March 27.
Responsible editor: Yang Ming