Cinema · A way to begin
The Cup
Phörpa
Khyentse Norbu · 1999
Synopsis
In an exiled Tibetan monastery in northern India, two young refugees from Tibet, Palden and Nyima, arrive. The 1998 football World Cup is in full swing, and the novice Orgyen, who is crazy about it, slips out at night to watch the matches in the neighbouring village. When the abbot forbids going out, Orgyen draws his comrades into a scheme: renting a television and a satellite dish to watch the final within the monastery walls.
Context
The film was shot at Bir, a Tibetan refugee village in Himachal Pradesh, at Chokling monastery, with real monks who had no acting experience, in Tibetan and in Hindi. Co-produced by Bhutan and Australia, it was its author's first feature film, shown at the Directors' Fortnight at Cannes in 1999, then at Toronto and Sundance. It was also the first film that Bhutan submitted for the Oscar for best foreign film.
Who it is for
A gentle, short comedy, performed by real monks, accessible to all ages; it can be found on DVD in French media libraries.
Prizes and reception
Screen International Award at the European Film Awards in 1999; sold worldwide after Cannes.
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