Customer Reviews

The Cup

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

A true life story by and starring the people who lived it, a monastary of Tibetan buddhists in exile, and the movie is told like a Buddhist parable, without a Western style beginning or end. These are people unexposed to Western movies and television, and the intrusion of World Cup Soccer presents a peculiar problem as the youngest monks become sports fanatics. What happens when people who don't know movies, make a movie? Some truly original art, that's what happens. The movie is thought-provoking and funny, poignant and peaceful, and provides the best insight into some Oriental philosophy for the Occidental audience. I highly recommend this movie to anyone who 1) wants to see an unpredictable original movie, 2) is curious about Tibetan culture, 3)is interested in Buddhism, 4) has to teach children, 5)is a soccer fan (pick up Bend it Like Bekham too), or 6)likes to travel (many scenes are very beautiful). I think I should also warn you that this film is completely devoid of violence, sex, drugs, rock 'n roll, or Christianity. How many movies have you seen like that?

This movie is more than just a simple comedy. It's primary point is showing how Buddhism can find it's way in a fast changing world. The premise of the film might perhaps sound uneventful to people interested in more action packed cinema; it's about a Orgyen, a young Tibetan monk, and his unending love for televised soccer. Monasteries do not have televisions in them, so Orgyen and a few fellow monks occasionally sneak off grounds to watch the games. The World Cup is fast approaching, and enthusiasm grows and grows in the community. Will the boys be allowed to watch the World Cup on monastery grounds? I won't say. The humor in here is done very well, possessing a very clean & natural delivery. In spirit of not saying too much before you see it, I'll just say that the ending will touch you. We need more movies like this in the world really. Don't hesitate to get it, the DVD quality is excellent.

This one is a discreet little charmer and apparently the first film ever produced in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, probably one of the world's most isolated countries and inevitably a high-priced destination for upscale yuppie travelers. Directed and written by first-time filmmaker Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche (a.k.a. Khyentse Norbu), the third incarnation of a 19th-century lama, this featherweight 1999 family-oriented comedy is about the impact of cultural change to a semi-cloistered Buddhist monastery-in-exile in northern India. Paul Warren's colorful cinematography captures the images of a beautiful country, but the movie is far more enjoyable than a National Geographic-style travelogue.

The fact-based story centers on Orgyen, a soccer-obsessed 14 year-old boy living at the monastery. So caught up in World Cup fever during the summer of 1998, he sneaks sneak out of the monastery at night to catch satellite broadcasts of the semi-final matches in a neighboring village. Forbidden by the elders to continue his viewing in town, Orgyen and his friend Lodo uses all their wiles to get a satellite dish for the monastery much to the consternation of the abbot and his second-in-command preceptor. Time is of the essence since the TV needs to work in time for the final match between Brazil and the favorite of the monks, France.

What is refreshing is how the exotic locale lends itself to the comical hijinks without sacrificing the authenticity of the Buddhist culture portrayed. Norbu was able to coax the entire Chokling monastery to participate in the film, and the non-professional cast is perfectly decent delivering their obviously just-memorized lines of dialogue. Jamyang Lodro is particularly winning as Orgyen. It all reminds me a bit of the 1980 Coke bottle-from-heaven comedy, "The Gods Must Be Crazy" and also the second son's TV obsession in last year's Mongolian documentary, "The Story of the Weeping Camel". The visual quality on the DVD is excellent. There are no extras included.

A thoroughly enjoyable film, about a group of Tibetan monks in northern India trying to catch the 1998 World Cup on television. As it happens, TV is not allowed into the monastery, so they have to sneak to the local bar to watch the matches, until the abbot finally relents and lets them install a TV in the monastery to watch the games. The director is a true-life lama (!), and the movie is somewhat amateurish at parts, but this is easily compensated by the originality of the story, and by the appeal of the actors (who, apparently, are monks themselves). Far more entertaining that other movies about Tibet made by westerners (like Little Buddha, Kundun, Seven Years in Tibet, etc.)

A wonderful spiritual meal via a thoroughly entertaining medium. THE CUP gives us many lessons on life and a bit of insight into Tibetian Buddhism, life in a Monestery, interaction between a spiritual teacher and his chargers, the exile of Tibetians, and giving you spiritual morsels all along the way.

Lovely moo-vie...

Respectfully Submitted,
tbass

I did not watch this particular 'english' version of the film. I saw this dvd by chance in the German language edition on a visit to Austria. Having been a student of meditation for many years I found the title intriguing and bought it. What a great buy it was!. The world of tibetian traditions, already challenged by recent political events, provide the spiritual background for this delightfully human encounter with young monk's aspirations, the challenges of a new world outside the monestary, and the importance of following what is in the heart. And all this through the joy for the little soccer ball! I highly recommend this dvd not only to adults but to their soccerfan children. It is full of cultural information while showing the spiritual and human connection we are all capable of.

How can a film about a bunch of Buddhist monks exiled in India with little or no conflict make a film worth watching again and again? First off there are so few films where no one gets seriously injured or killed that to find one is in itself, a triumph. This film, which shows the life of several Buddhist monks in training, is a simple joy to watch. I only grow more and more fond of this film each time I see it. The odd opening and closing music has also grown on me. I enjoy the simple hyjinks the young monks are involved in as well as their love for football (soccer) and their eventual winning over of the Abbott to allow them to rent a satellite dish to watch the world cup. The simple end where Orgyn leaves the party, and ignores the only viewing of The World Cup he is likely to see for a long while, in favor of seeking out personal items to give up so he can get his friends watch back is the crux of the morality behind this film. It's about selflessness and sacrifice. I showed this to my son to teach him about such concepts. The watch was pawned off so he could help get the satellite dish. The head monk notices this and says he will make a much better monk than a businessman. It's simple, yet very poignant. I absolutely love the end where they discuss "what is all this fuss about endings?" This film will surly stand the test of time.

This film could be very joyfull. But as the film on this DVD only contains of Chinese and Tibetan language the film will not be enjoyed by most. The offer does not mention about these languages, and the missing of English language. If I order a title in English, I can assume that I get something in English. Or not?