The Cup ( Phörpa )

The Cup (DVD) (*)

Out of Stock

Original Title: Phörpa
Screened, competed or awarded at:
Cannes Film Festival
European Film Awards
Toronto International Film Festival
Other Film Festival Awards

Language Selections:
English ( Subtitles )
Hindi ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )

Product Origin/Format:
Australia ( PAL/Region 4 )

Running Time:
93 min

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen

Special Features:
Interactive Menu
Scene Access
Trailer(s)

Movie filmed in 1999 and produced in:
Australia ( Australia, New Zealand )
India ( India, Eastern Asia )

Directed By:
Khyentse Norbu

Written By:
Khyentse Norbu (written by)

Actors:
Orgyen Tobgyal ..... Geko
Neten Chokling ..... Lodo
Jamyang Lodro ..... Orgyen
Lama Chonjor ..... Abbot
Godu Lama ..... Old Lama
Thinley Nudi ..... Tibetan Layman
Kunsang ..... Cook Monk
Kunsang Nyima ..... Palden
Pema Tshundup ..... Nyima
Dzigar Kongtrul ..... Vajra Master
Dhan Pat Singh ..... TV Shop Owner
Oga ..... Abbot's Attendant
Raj Baboon ..... Taxi Driver
Jamyang Nyima ..... The hypersomniaque
Pema Wamgchen ..... Storytelling Monk

Synopsis:

A group of Tibetan monks finds themselves torn between spiritual enlightenment and their love for soccer in the comedy Phorpa/The Cup. In Northern India near the Himalayas, a band of Buddhist monks from Tibet have set up a monastery in exile from their native land. Under the gaze of their leaders - firm-handed Geko and the Khempo, a more easy-going sort - new students are instructed in Buddhist practices as the monks educate young children, who are usually fidgety and prefer to discuss football rather than spiritual matters. Two of the novice monks, Lodo and Orgyens, are also avid soccer fans, and they eventually find themselves punished for watching a match on television without permission. However, the tiny wave of soccermania sparked by the new arrivals begins to grow, and when the young monks ask permission to watch the upcoming World Cup Final between France and Brazil, Geko and the Khempo say yes. However, now the monks have to figure out how to pay for the satellite dish they'll need to pull in the broadcast. First-time director Khyentse Norbu was himself a Buddhist monk, lending an authenticity to the proceedings. Phorpa/The Cup was shown as part of the Directors Fortnight series at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival.

While the soccer World Cup is being played in France, two young Tibetan refugees arrive at a monastery/boarding school in exile in India. Its atmosphere of serene contemplation is somewhat disrupted by soccer fever, the chief instigator being a young student, the soccer enthusiast Orgyen. Prevented by various circumstances from seeing the Cup finals on television in a nearby village, Orgyen sets out to organize the rental of a TV set for the monastery. The enterprise becomes a test of solidarity, resourcefulness and friendship for the students, while the Lama, head of the monastery, contemplates the challenges of teaching the word of Buddha in a rapidly changing world.

Prayer. Discipline. Tradition. These are the ways of the Tibetan monks. But a group of young monks has found a new favorite ritual...soccer.Now they'll do anything to persuade the elder monks to rent a satellite television to watch two civilized nations fight over a ball!

This product was added to our catalog on Monday 29 September, 2008.

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