Because it's only been over a month. I'm getting lazy, aren't I? Anyway...

Travellers and Magicians was both beautiful and fascinating. It gets off to a slow start, but not slow in a "gawd, this is sooo boring. isn't anything going to happen?" sort of way. It's more slow in a "first thing in the morning, watching the sun rise" sort of way.

The main story is fairly simple and classic: young man from a small town in a small country tries to journey towards a "better" life in America. Along the way he meets troubles and frustrations, travelling companions, and deeper truths. It has a satisfying trajectory that avoids cliche.

The secondary story is a tale within a tale and it is also classic without cliche. Magic, poison, and a love triangle are all featured. The story has abrupt stops and starts, as it is being told in bits and pieces by a monk on the journey, and he is interrupted for things such as sleep and truck stops.

The setting of the film, Bhutan, is lush and gorgeous and exquistely filmed. Khyentse Norbu, the filmmaker, is also a Buddhist monk and the maker of The Cup, which I also intend to see soon.