In a remote village in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, Gyembo (16) and his sister Tashi (15) aimlessly roam while their father meticulously polishes the ancient relics inside the altar of their private monastery. This family has been taking care of the monastery from one generation to the next for thousands of years. Unlike their father whose life revolves around the monastery, Gyembo and Tashi have grown up with desires that go beyond the confines of the monastery. While Gyembo wants to become a footballer he is the only confidante for Tashi who identifies herself as a transgender. Following tradition, their father wants Gyembo to carry on the family heritage. He genuinely believes that the only way for Gyembo to accumulate good karma is to leave school and dedicate his life to religion and become the next guardian.
This film explores the irony of two generations with contrasting dreams living alongside each other. The outcome of the generation gap is a bittersweet story of a family caught in a time clash.
2017, Bhutan - Hungary
ÉCLIPSE FILM, SOUND PICTURES
Technical specifications:
Original title: ཤུལ་ལས་བདག་འཛིན་འབད་མི།
International title: The Next Guardian
Genre: documentary
Length: 74 minutes
Shooting format: HD, Color, 1.85
Projection format: DCP (25fps)
Sound: DCP 5.1, TV 2.0
Language: Dzongkha
Subtitles: English
Shooting location: Bhutan
World Premiere: IDFA - November 2017
Cast and crew:
Directors: Arun Bhattarai & Dorottya Zurbó
Featuring: Gyembo, Tashi, Tenzin, Phub Lamo
Editor: Károly Szalai H.S.E.
Director of Photography: Arun Bhattarai
Music: Ádám Balázs
Sound Design: Rudolf Várhegyi H.A.S.E.
Producer: Julianna Ugrin
Co-Producer: Arun Bhattarai
Executive Producer: Laetitia Schoofs - KRO-NCRV
Production Manager: Zsófia Zurbó
Contact:
Zsófia Zurbó (Production Manager)
zsofia.zurbo@eclipsefilm.hu
Sales enquiries:
Syndicado
Aleksandar Govedarica
+421 949 635 890
aleksandar@syndicado.com
Supported by:
Creative Europe MEDIA
IDFA Bertha Classic & Europe Fund
KRO-NCRV
Bhutan Film Trust
Cinecrowd
Dare to Dream & Ford Foundation
