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:

Based on a true story.

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

Yes, it is a simple story, slowly directed as most of life is in slower pace!

Simple story of young monks and few old exiled monks and their lives. Soccer is explained to the Abbot as countries fighting over a ball (Different perspective). America is spoken of favourably. This movie touched me in many ways. I had grown up in places like this, visited places like this all my life, though not Dharmasala.

People can live in peace. Will we ever learn? Presence of the menacing Chinese Dragon is alluded to but no statements are made as to the politics. There is a deep longing, suffering, sadness and acceptance of the inevitable in the old Abbot's character. Contrast that with the enthusiasm, indeed passion for life, in Orgyen. The way of the young Monk! This story is based on true events.

I was really touched by the attachment of the youngest monk to a watch; his mother gave it to him. The watch is the only worldly possession of the youngest monk, it is not even running and he parts with it when his uncle asks for it. Filial! so eastern. As soon as he parts with it he misses it and is pensive about it, not interested in watching the Soccer World Finals. See the impact of that emotion on Orgyen. He loses interest in his most anticipated Soccer World Finals. He wants to do everything he can to recover the pawned watch to its rightful owner. Abbot just signs to Geko who goes out to Orgyen and comforts him. A stroke or two on the young Monk's head. No speeches. I was speechless at that moment.

There is every aspect of every emotion in everyone's lives; including a Monk's. As the movie draws to a close, there are few statements, with subtitles, pay close attention. It is pure, simple and philosophical outlook on life.

Will China ever return Tibet to Tibetans? Tibet is already ethnic cleansed where most men are gone. Women are used by Chinese. So on.....