Pema Tshering is an eclectic visual artist from Bhutan who likes pursuing his ideas and projects with whatever technique most suits them. Painting, sculpture, comic books, films and animations are some of the fields he has explored. “In The Realm of The Gods” is one of his detours in the film-making.
“In The Realm of The Gods” is screening on Beskop
Kaka (Tshering Dorji, “Hema Hema: Sing me a song while I wait”, “Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom“) has been a mask dancer and a teacher of the same art for 9 years and he is rather good at what he does. In fact, the film opens at the dance institute where someone is congratulating highly with him. It is only later though, when he stops at a convenience shop on his way home that we start to understand a bit more of his life. Kaka cannot pay what he buys and kindly asks the shopkeeper to add it to his long to-pay list. Once at home his little daughter Bumchu welcomes him with great enthusiasm, she is very attached to her dad and admires and supports his art. She loves copying the dance routines and she wants to become a professional dancer like him. Sadly, this beautiful job is not remunerative enough to support the family and even paying for Bumchu's schoolbooks is a big task. Kaka's wife doesn't pressure him, but she doesn't want him to encourage their daughter to become a dancer too.
Kaka's failure in getting and advance on his salary makes him consider selling his ancient ritual mask, a beautiful artifact inherited from his grandfather, but after few attempts, he realizes the shops don't want it. To make things worst, Kaka discovers one of his fellow dancers with less experience than him has been promoted to a more remunerated role. But when everything seems to be against him and hope is getting lost, Kaka makes a bold decision.
This inspiring 20min film is a hybrid between a film and a documentary. While the story – written by the director – is fictional, the characters are placed on a real, everyday Thimpu's background, populated by its people. This is very evident especially in the final act, where the director wanted to catch and emphasize the reactions of the passersby as Kaka walks down the the main street of Thimpu in his mask and traditional dance costume.
Shot on the occasion of the first edition of the Short Film Festival Beskop Tsechu, organised by Pema and his wife, the filmmaker Dechen Roder (“Honeygiver Among the Dogs”), “In The Realm of The Gods” reveals a double meaning of the artist's alienation; on one side the incompatibility of the little earning with the life necessities in a world ruled by economics, and on the other, a rather spiritual kind of detachment; when Kaka dances, he is on another realm, he is up there with the Gods. Neither of those unfortunately will help to pay for Bumchu's schoolbooks, those very books that can help her to have a better future.
On this subject, the film also ponders over the consequences of an ancient culture facing fast-paced changes. In a vicious circle, these masters of ritual dance don't have many chances to advance in their career because of their lack of formal education, limiting in this way a full fruition of their precious and unique experience.
Notably, the committed lead actor, Tshering Dorji, has learned, for the occasion, the ritual dance to be able to perform it in the film without a double, and the final dance delivers indeed an energetic and positive message. Instead of giving up Kaka reverts to faith. Faith in the Gods but also faith in what he does best.
