![]() And desire no matter how innocent, or deviant, will get you everytime. They are not perfect and they are prone to the same foibles we all have. With his pushy, overbearing and sometimes irreverent behavior, you see a side of monkhood that is so often hidden in films. The young monk who is the protaganist of this film reminds me so much of many young men I know. This film acts as a great "equalizer", confirming my beliefs that we all are the same. Not claiming to know much about the life of a Bhuddist Monk, I didn't think they allowed themselves to be interested in more than chanting and karmic evolvement. Had it not been based on true events, I would have found it hard to believe. This is a delightful little film, and freshman effort from the little country of Bhutan. PS Director Khyentse Norbu (who is said to be a re-incarnate Lama) also has a new movie out - 'Travellers and Magicians' (2003). It is in the same vein as 'Samsara', which is also a very good film. "If a problem can be solved, why be unhappy? And if it cannot, what is the use of being unhappy?" 'The Cup' contrasts strongly with earlier big-budget, stylised, productions about Tibetan Buddhism such as 'Seven Years in Tibet' and 'Kundun'. The Abbot of the monastery and the older Lamas just have no idea what soccer is, and there is a humorous scene where the old Lama is sleeping in the sun and the young monk Orgyen comes up to him: Orgyen: "Do a prediction for us Lama" Old Lama: "Can't you see I'm busy!" Orgyen: "At least say prayers for France" Old Lama: "Are they sick?!!?" And when everyone has seen the World Cup final, the serious Buddhist message comes home, in a beautiful way. But the film doesn't dwell on Tibetan politics, it is a light-hearted and elegantly-simple film inspired by true events at a Tibetan monastery-in-exile in Bhutan, where young Buddhist monks develop an interest in the World Cup soccer final. This film is an authentic look at the situation that many young Tibetan men and boys find themselves in following the Chinese occupation of Tibet. On what is usually described as a 'shoestring budget' ('sandal-strap' might be more appropriate) Khyentse Norbu has created a lovely little film that deserves all the success it can get. The foothills of the Himalayas are beautifully photographed and the score is appropriately inobtrusive. ![]() It is genuinely witty in places and with great performances from Jamyang Lodro and Orgyen Tobgyal, always a pleasure to watch. Essentially a documentary about monastic life, The Cup nevertheless shows the realities of the Tibetans' political situation and combines serious issues with a more light-hearted style. ![]() Directed by Khyentse Norbu, a first time feature director and important Buddhist figure himself, The Cup features an all-monk cast, none of whom had any acting experience prior to filming. With his friend Lodo (Neten Chokling), he quickly persuades new arrival Palden (Kunsang Nyima) to join them, while Geko and the Abbot (Lama Chonjor, real-life Abbot of Chokling Monastery, where The Cup was filmed) try to maintain discipline and fathom the rules of the game. When he isn't pretending to be Ronaldo or discussing the World Cup in the middle of prayer, he is planning to see the next game in the local village without getting caught by Geko (Orgyen Tobgyal, Jamyang Lodro's father in real life), the father-figure disciplinarian of the monastery. Orgyen (Jamyang Lodro) is a young monk who is obsessed with football. The Cup is set in such a monastery, at the time of last World Cup. Consequently, many families send their children to monasteries-in-exile in India and Bhutan in order to receive a traditional Buddhist education. Today, Buddhism is strictly forbidden in Tibet and even owning a picture of the Dalai Lama is a crime. In the 1950s, the Chinese invaded Tibet, killing one fifth of the six million inhabitants and destroying over 10,000 Buddhist monasteries.
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