Bhutan, Change Comes to the Happy Kingdom

This is a report by DW Documentaries in Germany on life in the changing kingdom of Bhutan, which is undergoing a much faster development these days. We travel from remote regions to Thimpu, the capital, and see the dissonance that is being played out across the country.

The film basically follows four stories which brings out various contrasts: the first of the young man Chewang, who has no work at home, and must travel to the city to make sales of a local aphrodisiac. His wife meanwhile hardly ever sees him, even when he comes to the village, as he has to go out harvesting the medicine in the high mountains.

The second, and very moving, story is of Doryi, a six-year old boy whose parents can no longer afford to raise. He is taken to a remote monastery where he ordains and suffers the inevitable separation from all he knew till that point. Fortunately he does seem to have a kind-hearted teacher, who underwent a similar experience in his own childhood.

The third story is about a woman farmer who is trying to become the first EU certified organic farmer in Bhutan. She is growing flowers with the help of her community, but disaster strikes when red ants attack her crops and get into her fields. She finds out the Neem extract is a deterent, but is it still within organic guidelines?

We also follow Ap Chimi, now an old man, who remembers his younger years when he was the champion bowman, and tries to bring those glory days back. Unfortunately his sight is already failing him, and he has to give way to younger men.