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:

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:

Mongolian Overtone (Hoomii)

worth watching again

I first saw this movie in a theater several years ago, not knowing what to expect. I remember that the children's singing at the beginning of the movie sounded a little harsh (unlike anything I'd heard before) but, by the end, the same singing enchanted me, I heard its sweetness, and I left knowing I had to see the movie again to take it all in. Since then I've bought the movie and I'm delighted that my young soccer-loving nieces and nephews (from different countries) love the movie as well, and want to see it whenever they visit--a tiny little contribution towards cross-cultural awareness. Great movie for kids and adults.