Phörpa (1999)

Director:

Khyentse Norbu

Writer:

Khyentse Norbu (written by)

Release Date:

28 October 1999 (Germany)

Genre:

Comedy | Sport

Tagline:

Buddhism is their philosophy. Soccer is their religion.

Plot:

While the soccer World Cup is being played in France, two young Tibetan refugees arrive at a monastery/boarding school in exile in India...

Plot Keywords:

Soccer | Monastery | Lama | Television | World Cup

Awards:

5 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Orgyen Tobgyal	...	Geko
Neten Chokling	...	Lodo
Jamyang Lodro	...	Orgyen
Lama Chonjor	...	Abbot
Lama Godhi	...	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

Also Known As:

The Cup (Europe: English title) (USA)

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

Bhutan | Australia

Language:

Hindi | Tibetan

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Malaysia:U | South Korea:All | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Chile:TE | Finland:K-7 | France:U | Germany:o.Al. (w) | Hong Kong:I | New Zealand:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | USA:G | Singapore:PG

Company:

Coffee Stain Productions

Trivia:

This is the first film produced in Bhutan to be released internationally.

Quotes:

Abbot: Can we cover the earth in leather so it's soft wherever we go?
Cook Monk: No.
Abbot: So what can we do?
Lodo: Wear leather sandals?
Abbot: Yes, wearing leather sandals is equal to covering the earth with leather.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

Soundtrack:

Mongolian Overtone (Hoomii)

Soccer and Spirituality

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. 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.

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...

"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'. It is in the same vein as 'Samsara', which is also a very good film.

PS Director Khyentse Norbu (who is said to be a re-incarnate Lama) also has a new movie out -- 'Travellers and Magicians' (2003).