19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
For The Love of Game: Very Charming Slice of Life of Monks, May 20, 2002
"The Cup" means the World Cup, the most prestigious and exciting competition of football (or socceer, if you live in America) held every 4 year. This charming small film, first ever produced in Bhutan (actually co-produced with Australia), shows the slice of life in a monastery on the Tibetian mountainside, where novice boy monk Orgyen, while being trained to learn the teaching of Buddism, is so eager to watch the final between Brazil and France that he tries to have the master's permission. But can he?
This delightful drama, directed by Khyentse Norbu, himself a very respected monk, displays what you will never see in Hollywood pictures, but it doesn't end there. The fact is, the director, clearly a connoisseur of film with good eyes, knows how to make a good film. "The Cup" not only lets you get inside the life of monastery, but presents a colorful, well-drawn characters as if recording their daily lives. Free from didactic tones or preaching messages, the film fares slowly but steadily, showing us the life among the Tibetian mountains are not totally free from Western civilizations. The boy monks want to see football games on TV, so they sneaks out at night to watch it at village (only to be thrown out, making too much noise there ... oh, just like any ordinary kids do). Just sit back and immerse yourself in the slow stream of time there, then you get yourself blissful time of watching good cinema, pleasantly guided by the director's light but sure handling.
The film also shows the glimpse of political climate around Tibet, which was previously cited in Brad Pitt's "Seven Years in Tibet." Two of the monks there are exiles from Tibet, and the Abbot, after long absence from his home, always dreams of going back, packing his things in the room. These slight allusions to the current politics surrounding Tibet should not be missed.
Though the director Norbu is born in Bhutan, the film is in fact shot in the north part of India, with all actual monks. So the kind-hearted Abbot is played by himself, so is Geko, a bit strict teacher and master at the monastery. Most of the monks are actually living in the monastery where the film is shot, so Jamyang Lordo, as the cute main boy character (wearing a yellow T-shirt of football superstar Ronaldo), is really studying at this place. Besides these facts, the moody photography capturing the beautiful and serene country renders this wonderful film all the more authentic and charming.
Speaking of authenticity, the boy monk Lordo is really the son of Orgyen Tobgyal, as Geko. And though the music is sparce, you can hear the traditional singing style of "Hoomii," buzzing-like voice as if uttering high and low voice together. Lovers of those still hidden ethinic treasures, watch it.
This film is co-executive-produced by Jeremy Thomas, responsible for "The Last Emperor."
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
About as far from Hollywood as you can get, December 12, 2000
Are you looking for something completely different? How about a subtitled film set in the northern reaches of India, concerning young monks at a monestery, in exile from Tibet, and their obsession over the '98 World Cup (football/soccer).
That's about as far away from some trite Hollywood formula movie as you can get, and this little movie will redeem your faith in the magic of film. No sweeping, overwrought soundtrack...no big name stars...no onscreen violence. Instead, a deep, thoughtful movie that manages to maintain a level of sweet humor throughout. One typical scene: two young monks at prayer service...one secretly passes a note to another...the translation: "Brazil vs. Argentina tonight." It's just not something you're anticipating (at all) at that point and it succeeds in altering your expectations of what's to come.
One note of caution: I found I really had to crank the TV to hear the dialogue and capture the intonations of the voices. Thank god for legible subtitles.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A view of the unexplored world of Tibetan monks, November 1, 2000
I've been fascinated by Tibetan monks lately and looked forward to this video with anticipation after hearing that the film had won acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival. The director/writer, Khyentse Norbu, grew up in a monastery and brings to the viewer an inside look at Tibetan culture.
The story takes place in a Tibetan monastery in India where Tibetan children are brought, often smuggled out of Tibet over the Himalayas, their lives at risk. China now controls Tibet and their parents send them to the monastery for safety and to have them brought up with a traditional Buddhist education.
It is a place of peace, reverence and simplicity. It is also the place where the young boys play jokes on each other and find it hard to concentrate on the long hours of prayer. Another thing they are obsessed with is soccer and the World Cup finals. At first they sneak out of the monastery to view the games on TV at a local shop, but later they convince Abbott to let them rent a TV for the night of the big World Cup finals.
Of course there are complications. And a happy ending.
The most striking thing about the movie, however, was the deep insight into life at the monastery and the characterization of the young monks. Starring Jamyang Lodro as Orgyen, a 14-year old monk with a winning personality, there is an feeling of authenticity throughout. The audience learns about food, customs, and the way of life of these simple people. And it also learns about their humanity.
The film opens up a world that has existed for centuries and yet has been unexplored by modern film. And underneath it all is a simple and positive message of Buddhist philosophy.
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