Bhutan: A Himalayan Cultural Diary

Pairing video shots of the tiny country of Bhutan, located in the Himalayan Mountains, with a voiceover narration in the form of a running diary, this often lovely looking video takes viewers across Bhutan, touching on Bhutanese history, religion (Buddhist), and culture. Scenes of pastoral life are mixed with shots of colorful Bhutanese masked dances and a musical selection played by students at a school for the blind. Profiles are included of both the current king and the missionary teacher Father Mackey, who has taught Bhutanese children for the past 35 years. Unfortunately, the program lacks focus, partially because of the awkward framing device: although voiceover narration (from someone who sounds too young to be returning to Bhutan "after 25 years") lends a personal note, we do not actually see the narrator, leading one to suspect that the footage and narration are unconnected. This patched-together feeling, coupled with the absence of maps or other graphics, makes Bhutan: A Himalayan Cultural Diary a nice film to look at, but not an especially useful or compelling one. An optional purchase. (R. Pitman)