Part of SFFILM Festival
Sing Me a Song
Description
Now 18 and with full access to the internet, the young Bhutanese monk Peyangki from Happiness (Festival 2014), is more interested in video games and girls than in studying and praying. The film also follows Ugyen, a woman who’s been chatting online with Peyangki and is looking for a way out of her narrow life. With a light hand, Balmès’ follow-up to his earlier film demonstrates the disturbing ways in which technology has had an impact on both of these youngsters’ lives and marks a cultural shift for his protagonist and Bhutanese society at large.
“Balmès cunningly and rather magnificently captures fascinating commentary without any heavy-handed, obtrusive sentiments. The meat of this documentary lies in the ways he engages the audience to contemplate bigger-picture questions about modernization and the internet’s positive and negative influences. The manner in which he coaxes out these authentically-manifested ideas is powerful and thought-provoking.” –Courtney Howard, Variety
Thomas Balmès is a documentary filmmaker who made his debut in 1996 with Bosnia Hotel. Among his other works are Maharadjah Burger (1997); The Gospel According to the Papuans (Festival 2000), winner of the Festival’s Silver Spire Golden Gate Award in the Film & Video – Society & Cultural International category; A Decent Factory (2004); Babies (2010); and Happiness (Festival 2014).
Film Details
Language Dzongkha, Layap
Year 2019
Runtime 99
Country France/Germany/Switzerland
Director Thomas Balmès
Producer Thomas Balmès
Editor Alex Cardon, Ronan Sinquin
Cinematographer Thomas Balmès
Music Nicolas Rabaeus
Print Source
Participant Media
lkim@participantmedia.com
