Bhuthan: The World’s Happiest Man (भूठान: The World’s Happiest Man)

Hello?!

Can I speak to the visa officer please?

Yes, visa officer!

Yeah.

Ma'am, ma'am.

Listen me.

I want to talk with your visa officer.

Yeah.

Ma'am, you don't speak Nepali?

Okay, I'll try to talk in English.

Okay. Yeah.

My name is Bishnu Bahadur KC.

And I was a national football player of Bhutan in 1988.

Yeah.

I'd like to talk with your visa officer.

Ma'am.

Ma'am,

I applied visa ten times,

but always reject.

Ma'am,

why I can't go to Bhutan?

My father born in Bhutan, my grandfather born in Bhutan

and I'm also born in Bhutan.

Ma'am.

You see, ma'am, I'm not going to live in your country.

Because I'm American now.

Yeah, my family, they are all American, you see.

But I'd like to go to Bhutan once.

Please. Ma'am.

Ma'am.

I am footballer Bishnu Bahadur KC.

Grandpa!!

Do you have a brother?

Yes, I do have a brother.

I don't suppose you're willing to tell me

exactly where he might be right now?

I don't understand why you are asking him,

why you're delaying the services.

Well, a man just called me

on the phone a few moments ago

and said

he was on his way.

So? He will come when he has to come,

like always.

Your brother wanted to make sure that

he was here

when the decision is made,

which is why I'm now on hold

for your brother.

I'm the older son in my family.

As per the Hindu customs,

I have the right to make that decision.

Well, if you guys can't get it together

and make a decision yourselves,

I'll just move on to the next one,

who is 'mom.'

“My husband lived with me his whole life.

I know him better than anyone.

He was a believer.

He must be buried for his salvation.”

“I have served him until his final breath.

And this is my last service to him.

He must be buried. This is my request.

We should speak and argue no further on this.

He must be buried.”

This is my older grandma,

the first wife. - It's okay.

I can speak myself.

I'm his first wife.

My husband was a purely Hindu.

According to our Hindu custom and religion,

the only elder one is authorized

to perform and do the death rituals.

My husband's body and soul is purely Hindu.

He can't be buried.

Please do not create any problem.

Don't be so stubborn, sister.

This is not the time to argue at times like this.

Lakshmi, don't forget you still have a Hindu name - Lakshmi.

I'll die today,

but won't let anyone cremate my husband.

Even if she dies today,

she can't give up her husband's last rites.

I don't get it.

Get in here!

Coffee!

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio has introduced a legislation

at the 118th U.S. Congress

addressing the concerns of Bhutanese immigrants.

The bill highlights the longstanding issue

faced by Bhutanese citizens residing out of the country

who have been unable to visit their homeland, even for short visits,

due to the Bhutanese government's restrictions on their return.

The legislation asserts that the then King of Bhutan

was responsible for the suppression and expulsion of over

100,000 Nepali-speaking Bhutanese in the 1980s and 1990s.

Since 2007, thousands of these displaced individuals

have been resettled in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, and various European countries

while many others remain in refugee camps in Nepal.

The proposed legislation has been referred to

the Foreign Affairs Committee for further review...

Please!

Mr. Bishnu.

Mr. Bishnu.

So melodious.

It's not me, it's your ears.

No matter how I sing, you always find it melodious.

You do really sing well.

When I was younger, I actually used to sing a little.

But when I left Bhutan, I think I left my voice behind.

There you go again with your “Bhutan, Bhutan.”

We come from dust and will return to dust.

Didn't I tell you not to worry so much about your country?

This entire universe is at the Lord's feet.

And here we are looking for a man-made country.

We're really talking about the same path.

Let me get back home and I'll get wherever you are talking about.

You really are a wordsmith.

After all, you were a national football player.

You know how to speak,

but you also need to know how to live, Mr. Bishnu.

That's why I keep telling you to take refuge in the Lord.

If not that, take refuge in me.

I'll relieve you from all these worries.

Hello, how're you doing?

All good?

Mother?

Are you my enemy?

When we fled to Nepal, why didn't you come with us?

Were you mad at me?

Everyone says Bhutan's bhotes are selfish.

I'm tired of explaining it to them

that mothers are never selfish.

How can I explain?

It doesn't take a lot

to spread hatred.

A little spark is enough.

I saw you in my dream,

standing under that red silk-cotton tree.

The next day, you left this world.

Now I see myself under that same tree.

But I don't die.

Why, mother?

That tree is blooming in red right now.

Come home now. I'll grind some spices from

its roots. And you'll get better.

That tree is blooming in red right now.

Come home now. I'll grind some spices from

its roots. And you'll get better.

That tree is blooming in red right now.

Come home now. I'll grind some spices from

its roots. And you'll get better.

“Your Majesty,

I've heard that Bhutan has a new rule now,

that each house has to plant new trees.

I am from the Chirang Village.

We have a lot of trees and plants at my house.

The trees my mother and I planted have now all grown up.

They're not just trees for me, your Majesty.

They are the family who recognize me the way I recognize them.

I want to see those trees.

I want to hold that soil on my palm.”

Your Majesty,

I have applied for Bhutan's visa 10 times in the last 10 years.

But it's always rejected.

It's not just mine.

Everyone who was kicked out of Bhutan has been denied the visas.

Your Majesty,

I would like to mention that

I was a National football player of Bhutan

and the best goalkeeper, too.

I have blocked many goals for Bhutan.

Your Majesty,

I've got many

certificates, medals and recognitions

from your father, your Highness.

I even have photographs of these.

I'm sending some of these with this letter.

Your Majesty,

I am unwell.

Before I die, I'd like to come home to Bhutan one last time.

Please grant me a visa just once.

Is that it?

No!

Now, continue.

There's a silk cotton tree my mother planted.

In the spring, the flowers bloom luxuriantly.

When I got sick, my mother never took me to a doctor.

Not sure what's in those flowers,

but my mother used to say it was like an elixir for me.

When my mother longed for me,

she'd spend hours under that tree.

I want to come there,

pluck the flowers and drink the sweet nectar from those flowers

and live among my trees and plants.

I don't understand.

It's not making any sense.

God, I hate that goddamn coffee machine.

I'll tell you that.

I still grind it by hand.