WHEN RELIGIOUS TRADITION BECOMES A THREAT TO BHUTAN'S NATURE, ONE MAN BRAVES SOCIETY AND SETS OUT ON A MISSION TO CHANGE THE MINDS AND HEARTS OF THE LOCALS.

Synopsis

Butterfly Bhutan tells the story of a man's quiet yet determined struggle to correct a deeply rooted custom that has drifted away from its true purpose.
Sonam Phuntsho, a devoted Buddhist, begins each day with morning prayers before heading to the forest in Bhutan's capital, where he lovingly cares for the trees
Since his retirement, Sonam has followed this routine faithfully. But recently, he noticed that the prayer flags traditionally hoisted with good intentions, were strangling the trees and slowly killing them. Determined to save the trees, he began removing the flags, quickly earning the ire of those who placed them.
Despite facing criticism and warnings of divine retribution from his son and others, Sonam continues to remove the prayer flags and educate people about the harm their actions cause. He engages with those who come to hoist new flags, urging them to consider the environmental impact and encouraging the removal of flags that hinder young trees' growth.
Although his pleas initially fall on deaf ears, Sonam remains resolute. Eventually, his niece Nima, an environmental science student, shares the story on social media, highlighting the detrimental effects of the prayer flags on the trees.
The post gains attention, drawing the interest of private media, and soon volunteers join Sonam in his mission.
Sonam's unwavering dedication creates ripples, much like a butterfly's wings triggering a hurricane across the globe.
His story shows the profound impact one person's passion can have in driving positive change.

Background

In Bhutan - a Buddhist country - prayer flags fluttering across the country is a common sight. The prayer flags are hoisted to garner merit and luck for all the sentient beings. As beautiful as it looks these prayer flags are causing harm to the trees. Traditionally, cloth flags flew high, overlooking rivers and valleys, attached to mature trees. But in modern times people often put nylon versions on younger saplings nearer to their homes, not realising that they indirectly harm the trees and the surroundings.

Director's Statement

The world of prayer flags has intricately woven itself into the very fabric of my being-not sparked by mere enthusiasm, but rather rooted in the unwavering beliefs of my grandmother.

From my earliest memories, I have joined my parents in the ritual of raising prayer flags for various reasons, including seeking good fortune during exams. Whether it was the result of my efforts or the influence of the prayer flags, I consistently achieved commendable marks.

This practice might have continued if not for the influence of Sonam Phuntsho, whom I affectionately call Uncle due to his enduring friendship with my father. Sonam Phuntsho has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.

Initially a sound engineer with national television alongside my father, he later transitioned to the Department of Forest to pursue his passion, transforming into a dedicated forester. I always admired his fervour and commitment to environmental conservation.

Despite facing criticism for his actions, Uncle Sonam persisted in following his beliefs, with the benefits of his actions extending to everyone in the world. Witnessing Uncle Sonam's selfless acts made me realize the importance of sharing his story with the world, and the most effective way I knew to spread this knowledge was by creating a documentary. This realization motivated me to embark on a three-year journey of capturing Uncle Sonam's efforts and gathering support along the way

My goal is to shed light on the adverse consequences of improperly raised prayer flags can be reached with this documentary. I fervently hope that through this film, we can enlighten and educate individuals about the responsible and respectful ways of participating in this sacred tradition.

If, by the end of this endeavour, even a single person's perspective is transformed, I will consider the purpose of this documentary fulfilled—a crucial step toward safeguarding trees from unwittingly becoming victims of misguided practices.

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KIMFF winner