Phörpa (1999)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

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:

The soccer games featured in the movie is from the World Cup 1998 in France. The first game is the quarterfinal between France and Italy (France won on penalties), and the second is the final in Paris where France beat Brazil 3-0.

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:

Mahakala

This film "covered my feet in leather"

This is a delightful little film, and freshman effort from the little country of Bhutan. Had it not been based on true events, I would have found it hard to believe. 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. This film acts as a great "equalizer", confirming my beliefs that we all are the same. We just tend to say it differently. The young monk who is the protaganist of this film reminds me so much of many young men I know. With his pushy, overbearing and sometimes irreverent behavior, you see a side of monkhood that is so often hidden in films. They are not perfect and they are prone to the same foibles we all have. Mainly, DESIRE. And desire no matter how innocent, or deviant, will get you everytime. The landscape appeared to be beautiful, the misty Himalayas, the rolling fields and saffron robes blowing in the wind beneath matching parasols. Unfortunately the cinematographer did not capitalize on all of this natural beauty, but merely glanced at the splendor as if it were merely coincidental. So all we get are mere glimpses at what should have been scenes lovingly caressed by the lens. This was a situation where the landscape and the camera should have clearly become lovers. But beyond that, I was swept away at the innocence of the director and it was a refreshing change to my jaded eyes. In my opinion, the more contrived Hollywood machine would not have been able to do more justice to this simple forthright piece of storytelling. And I am personally pushing for them to see the next World Cup games in person. Wanna take up a collection?