Bhutan Movie & Book Recommenations

A selection of movies and books that you might like to check out before travelling to Bhutan.

Most people don’t know much, if anything, about Bhutan. Here’s some movies and books I’ve seen or read that provide a great insight into the history, culture, landscape, and religion to give some background for your time in Bhutan.

Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom

Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom tells the story of a disinterested young teacher who is sent to one of the most remote schools in Bhutan.

The main character, Ugyen, lives in Bhutan’s capital, Thimphu, and is about to complete the final year of his mandatory teaching service. He can hardly wait to leave. His dream is to move to Australia and pursue a career as a musician, and teaching feels like little more than an obstacle standing in his way.

The film follows his long journey to Lunana, a real village high in the Himalayas, and his experiences living and teaching in one of the most isolated communities in the world.

This is a beautiful movie, filled with stunning mountain scenery and a story that may not be especially surprising, but is nonetheless moving and worthwhile. At its heart, it serves as a gentle reminder of what truly matters in life.

One of the most remarkable aspects of the film is its authenticity. It was filmed in the actual village of Lunana, with the crew trekking all of the necessary equipment into this remote location. Most of the cast are villagers themselves, bringing a genuine warmth and realism to the story.

The film was nominated for an Academy Award.

For Australian viewers, Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom is currently available to stream on SBS On Demand.

Agent of Happiness

Agent of Happiness is a fascinating Bhutanese documentary that follows Amber, a government "happiness agent" whose job is to travel throughout Bhutan surveying citizens as part of the country's famous Gross National Happiness index. As he interviews people from all walks of life about their wellbeing, the film explores whether happiness can really be measured while also revealing Amber's own search for love, purpose, and contentment. Combining stunning Himalayan scenery with intimate portraits of ordinary Bhutanese people, it offers a thoughtful and often moving reflection on what happiness means in the modern world.

The documentary begins as a light-hearted exploration of life in Bhutan, but it gradually and unexpectedly delves into some of the deeper challenges faced by its people. Along the way, we meet a transgender woman navigating her place in society, a lonely teenager devoted to caring for her alcoholic mother, and the film's central figure, Amber, who lives without citizenship and longs to find love and marriage.

For Australian viewers, Agent of Happiness is currently available to stream on SBS On Demand.

Buttertea at Sunrise
by Britta Das

When Britta Das goes to work as a physiotherapist in a remote village hospital, her good intentions are put to the test amid monsoons, fleas, and startling conditions. But as she visits homes in the mountains and learns the mysteries of Tantric Buddhism, the country captivates her very soul. Gaining insights into the traditions of the mystical kingdom, Britta makes friends, falls in love, and battles illness.

This all takes place in the late 1990s and in the far east of the country, a region we do not visit on our tours. Bhutan has changed a lot since that not-too-distant past with road and health system improvements, electricity, tv and internet. It’s still a great read but remember that while the people and traditions are still much the same, there has been quite a lot of development in Bhutan since the book was written.

Beyond the Sky and the Earth
by Jamie Zeppa

In 1989, Jamie Zeppa, a naïve, twenty-three-year-old, teaching graduate from Canada, commits to a two-year teaching contract in Bhutan against the wishes of both her fiancé, Robert, and her controlling grandfather. Jamie is unceremoniously dropped at a remote Bhutanese village to teach Grade Two. There, she battles fleas, landslides, rats, kerosene stoves, leeches, and illness, and believes she will not survive two weeks, let alone two years.

Again this book is set a long time back in history for Bhutan. Since 1989 Bhutan has developed it’s infrastructure, healthcare, and education systems far beyond what is described in this book. Also again, it is set in the far east of the country where we do not travel to. However, it is still a great read and you’ll learn a lot about Bhutan customs, spirituality, and an appreciation for the landscape which is one of the most important aspects of the country. One part of the book that holds real interest as it is not talked about much in most media is the troubles that occurred in the early 1990s between the ethic Bhutanese and ethnic Nepalese.