THOMAS BALMÈS
SING ME A SONG
2019
« A rich character study that asks how traditional ways can live alongside contemporary conveniences. »POV Magazine
TRAILER - SING ME A SONG
PRESENTATION
Young Peyangki lives and studies in a picturesque monastery deep in the mountains of Bhutan. A few years have passed since the king allowed TV and internet into the country, and now the structured daily rituals of candle lighting and recitation of prayers compete with the powerful lure of smart phones. Privately, Peyangki is passionate about love songs and falls in love on WeChat with a young singer from the city of Thimphu.
Disinterested in study and often reprimanded by his masters, he sells medicinal mushrooms to make enough money to leave the monastery in search of “the one he dreams of night and day”. Peyangki trades in his robes for street clothes, but will he succumb to romance and the temptations of the city or return to his pious life in the monastery ?
A film directed by Thomas Balmès (Director, Author, Director of Photography, Producer)
Year of production: 2019
Length: 99’
Production: TBC Productions, Participant Media, zero one film, Close Up Films, ARTE France Cinéma, RTS — Radio Télévision Suisse
With the support of: ARTE France, the Région Île-de-France, Filmförderungsanstalt, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, Office fédéral de la culture – OFC, Cinéforom and Loterie Romande
GALLERY
PRESS & FESTIVALS
PRESS
« 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
« Like Happiness, Sing Me a Song is beautifully filmed, with sharp contrasts between the pristine scenes in the mountain village and the more chaotic urban world that tempts Peyangki and others from his town. » Stephen Farber, The Hollywood Reporter
« Each frame is pristine, peaceful, and stunning, which only underlines the sharp changes in the young monks’ lives. » Alissa Wilkinson, Vox
« This exquisitely shot meditation on the future of faith offers a unique snapshot of our changing world. » Pat Mullen, POV
« Thomas Balmes’ unique documentary Sing Me A Song also leaves one with an overwhelming nostalgia; for a world free of technological interventions. » Namrata Joshi, The Hindu
« Framed by the director himself, who displays great skill (in capturing breath-taking scenery, in particular), and a sharp sense of observation when it comes to subtle changes in facial expression, Sing Me A Song is both an endearing portrait (traced calmly and steadily) and a suggestive study of a country where – as in many other lands – technology is having a devastatingly hypnotic effect on the younger generations. » Fabien Lemercier, Cineuropa
« Not only is every frame dripping with visual poetry, the storytelling it manages through intricate camera moves in a documentary is unreal. From the framing and movement to the pitch perfect colors, every frame is rich with emotional intrigue. » Andrew Hamilton, Scene Creek
FESTIVALS
Toronto International Film Festival – Doc NYC – International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam – One World Film Festival – Festival international du film documentaire Docville – Festival international du film documentaire Millenium – Les Arcs Film Festival
