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Travelers and Magicians
Metascore
71 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
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  1. New York Post
    Reviewed by: V.A. Musetto
    100
    Delightful performances are delivered by all in this ingenious work of cinema that is worth seeing if only for its glorious views of the Himalayas.
  2. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Steven Rea
    100
    Fulfills the promise of its title: It's transporting, it's magical.
  3. Salon.com
    Reviewed by: Andrew O'Hehir
    80
    It isn't going anywhere, but the journey is highly entertaining.
  4. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kevin Thomas
    80
    A warm, embracing film of transcendent beauty and spirituality.
  5. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Desson Thomson
    80
    To watch this movie is to be moved not only by an affecting, warmly spirited yarn, but also by the wisdom that seems to waft to us directly from those snow-capped peaks.
  6. Christian Science Monitor
    Reviewed by: David Sterritt
    75
    Colorful, if not exciting.
  7. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Jami Bernard
    75
    Shangri-La is in your own backyard.
  8. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Carla Meyer
    75
    Visually accomplished and loads of fun.
  9. The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
    Reviewed by: Rick Groen
    75
    With its intricate design, sly humour and timely theme, Travellers and Magicians is a lot more than just a travelogue.
  10. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Frank Scheck
    70
    Mainly notable for its exoticism and gorgeous scenery.
  11. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Maitland McDonagh
    70
    Offbeat and ravishingly beautiful.
  12. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Chuck Wilson
    70
    In this lovely film, writer-director Khientse Norbu (The Cup) shifts smoothly between a kind of Buddhist "The Postman Always Rings Twice" and depicting the bonds that form among Dondup and his companions.
  13. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Laura Sinagra
    70
    In interviews, Norbu has compared the editing process to meditation. While his pacing echoes that of polestars like Ozu and Makhmalbaf, his edits make striking events out of mundane motions like hands moving under running water and mouths meeting cups of butter tea.
  14. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Dave Kehr
    70
    As he did in "The Cup," Mr. Norbu provides a lot of ingratiating comic moments. His Buddhism is the laughing, playful kind, and does not ask the Western audience - for whom the film is clearly intended - to deal with any uncomfortably complex religious issues.
  15. Variety
    Reviewed by: David Stratton
    70
    Although writer-director Khientse Norbu breaks no ground in unfolding two parallel stories about young men seeking fresh horizons, he creates believable characters -- and has the great benefit of living in a country that provides seldom-seen locations at the top of the world.
  16. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marc Savlov
    67
    A film within a film encapsulated by a clever and very accurate anti-materialistic Buddhist morality lesson, Travellers and Magicians feels a bit like Chaucer's Canterbury Tales as retold by Siddhartha.
  17. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Owen Gleiberman
    67
    The (mild) intrigue of Travellers & Magicians is that its central figure, Dondup (Tshewang Dendup), rolls his eyes at Buddhist karma.
  18. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Ty Burr
    63
    Anyone interested in Buddhism and the chance to see the high-altitude, deep-spirited landscapes of Bhutan from a movie theater seat is herewith directed to Travellers and Magicians.
  19. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Scott Tobias
    50
    Unsurprising tribute to the sweetness of rural dwellers.
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User Reviews

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User Score
9.1 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 10 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. ChadS.
    9
    For a Buddhist film, it's sort of funny that the reason seemingly given for the budding globetrotter to leave Bhutan is to de-virginize a barely legal village girl. But all kidding aside, "Travellers and Magicians" casts a spell, or rather, the storytelling monk is doing the spell-casting when he's doing the allegory thing for his fellow traveller. The filmmaker wittily links his two storylines together with a clever example of reincarnation just to let us know that there's more than one religion in this world.… Full Review »
  2. TonyS.
    9
    Deceptively simple -- it knocks on the door of your unconscious and goes straight for the basement. That's a loop way of saying that much more happens in the depths than is evident on the surface. Colossal soundtrack to boot with the overtone singing.… Full Review »
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