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The Cup (Phorpa) - Khyentse Norbu, Jamyang Lodro, Kunsang Nyima, Pema Tshundup

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Movie propaganda

In the 1950s, the Chinese Red Army invaded Tibet, killing more than 1.2 million out of six million Tibetans and destroying more than 10,000 monasteries. At present there are more Chinese in Tibet than Tibetans. Despite hardship and danger, many Tibetan families secretly send their children away to other countries in hope of providing them with a traditional Buddhist education.

Inspired by true events, our story follows two young Tibetan boys, Palden (Kunsang Nyima) and Nylma (Pema Tshundup), escaping Tibet and arriving at a Tibetan monastery-in-exile nestled in the picturesque foothills of the Himalayas. Here they receive their ordination and orientation into monastic life.

Once ordination formalities are completed, the boys are thrown into a whirlwind of unexpected events not usually associated with the austere atmosphere of a traditional Tibetan monastery - the World Cup Soccer final is on and football fever is running hot throughout the hallowed hallways. Soccer slogans are seen everywhere and the chanting of young monks is not always in a traditional vein, much to the distress of Geko (Orgyen Tobgyal), the monastery's disciplinarian.

Orygen (Jamyang Lodro), Palden's room-mate, is a fearless and cheeky 14-year-old football-obsessed monk. along with his faithful sidekick Lodo (Neten Chokling), he involves Palden in a midnight misadventure to see a semi-final World Cup match at a local shop. They are caught in the act by Geko, adding to his constant consternation about the young monk's non-academic pastime. Expulsion from the monastery is looming for the boys and a solution must be found. The wise, compassionate Abbot (Lama Chonjor) and his faithful, but frazzled, Geko try to come to terms with the soccer-mad monks.

Orgyen, in a final desperate attempt to fulfil his passion to see the World Cup final brazenly suggests to Geko that the final match be seen in the monastery itself. To Orgyen's, and everyone else's surprise, permission is given.

Tradition meets technology head on as Orgyen and Lodo use every spare moment between their monastic duties to, against all odds, get a satellite dish and an old television set to watch the big game. After a few financial hitches, hilarious technical glitches and some mystical shadow-plays by torchlight, the midnight show goes on, with some surprising outcomes. It seems that Buddha is smiling from the sidelines.

Warm irreverent humour and Tibetan wisdom combine in The Cup (Phorpa). It reveals many insights into a culture that struggles with noble dignity to maintain its ancient traditions and identity.

Also starring Godu Lama as the old lama and Thinley Nudi as the Tibetan layman. Written and directed by Khyentse Norbu.