A Cultural Experience (Rating: 4.00)
Review : Seeing a movie about a different culture is always exciting to me because we Americans know little about other cultures. This movie I was particularly anticipating to see because we especially don't know much about Tibetan monks living in India. These monks were very interesting in the way they acted, sometimes very serious and spiritually free and sometimes in a joking, happy manner like they are just like us. Many of them were very interested in soccer and other things that are also popular in America.
It is acted by the non-professional cast living in the monastery playing roles of themselves. The film is set in an exiled Tibetan monastery in northern India. It's a film that tries very hard to bring the world of the monks together with a more light-hearted, humorous approach to the modern conditions the monks are now faced with. They conveyed the whole story through the point of view of a little boy named Orgyen. Orgyen is a very comical little guy who just happens to have the biggest interest in soccer one could possibly have. He risks getting kicked out of the monastery by sneaking out every night and going to a local house to watch the World Cup. He gets so into the games that when his team loses he gets kicked out of the house because he gets too loud and angry. Orgyen was caught sneaking out once and he couldn't do it again so he had to think of some way to watch the final game. He somehow convinced the Abbott to let them buy a T.V. and a satellite dish and bring it to the monastery for the night. So they watched the game and the viewers of the movie witnessed a reunion of two cultures. I learned a lot about Tibetan refugee monks living in India. I researched the topic and found that it was very accurate. Also, it's a true story and with the real people, too. The movie is great for educational purposes and just for an average person who wants to see a good movie on a Friday night. It has a comical sense sometimes and sometimes a serious sense. As comical as it is, it still carries many educational facts about Tibetan monks and especially monks who have escaped Tibet.
In this film we realize that anyone of any culture, from any country, of any religion, of any race, and of any social class can be just like you and me. Orgyen and his pals were real people and this is what actually happens in that monastery and it proves that the whole world is very "westernized".
I really liked this film because of the evidence of them overcoming oppression. By escaping a miserable Tibet, at the time, they made a new life for themselves in India and lived happy and religious lives together. The film conveyed a message through a more artsy feeling so it wasn't a big crowd pleaser but that was partly because they didn't understand what was going on behind the screen. The fact that these monks made happier lives for themselves was the message that should've been seen but if all you saw was a bunch of Tibetan monks watching a soccer game on a satellite T.V. then you missed the film's message. I strongly suggest that you go either rent or buy "The Cup" today because it's a good movie and it's a cultural experience.
Great Movie for all ages (Rating: 5.00)
Review : "The Cup" is a movie directed by Khyentse Norbu. It is about a Tibetan Monastery in south India in 1998. All of the monks in the monastery have an obsession with soccer, and The 1998 World Cup. The Principle Characters in the movie are: Geko, who is the Discipline Master of the Monastery. Abbot, the Elderly leader of the Monastery. Orgyen, younger monk obsessed with soccer. Lodo, Older monk obsessed with soccer. Palden Older refugee from Tibet. Nyima, younger refuge from India. And finally The Old lama/Diviner, who makes predictions for people.
The story starts off with the monks playing soccer in the field, when Geko arrives, the boys run away. Then Geko and the older Monk lead a Ceremony, and the younger Monks throw airplanes and sleep. After the two new monks arrive from Tibet, they are initiated, and then they are assigned to room with the two soccer fans. Their heads are shaved and then they are given their robes.
That night Orgyen and Lodo take the two new monks to see the semi-finals of The World Cup. When they are sneaking back in to the monastery they are caught by Geko and are given kitchen duties. At their duties, Orgyen decides that they will watch the Finals at the monastery. They now have to convince Geko to let them rent a satellite TV. They ask Geko and he lets them to watch it there.
Orgyen and Lodo collect money from other monks to watch the game. They raise the money and go and rent the TV. The storekeeper says its not enough so they get the younger refuge to pawn his watch. They then bring the TV back on a tractor. After the game, Orgyen looks for money to pay the storekeeper for Nyima's watch. Geko tells him that he will pay for it. The Final lines of the Films were: The Abbot fulfilled his dream and is in Tibet, Orgyen dreams of forming the first Tibetan Soccer Team. Monks await the next World Cup and the Chinese are still serving rice in Tibet.
In transition I feel that despite that there were no actual actors in this movie, and most roles were played by the actual people that were involved in this movie, the acting was quite good. The scenes were portrayed in a very professional matter and were very realistic. Also the dialogue flowed with realism. The plot actually did hold my attention unlike other foreign movies. In my opinion all the characters were very realistic and there were many serious points in the movie, yet there were also very funny parts, which both make up a great movie.
From the movie I learned a lot on the Invasion and mistreatment of Tibetans by the Chinese. For example, the Tibetans are isolated, starved, and unjustly ruled by the Chinese Government. For example the two refuges had to be snuck out of Tibet into India. This is because of two reasons, the Chinese don't let Tibetans out of Tibet, and also they do not allow them to practice their Religion, and their parents wanted them to be religious. Also I learned about an example of the mistreatment of Tibetans by the Chinese. The two refugees told the monks about a women beat to death by Chinese guards. The relatives of the lady donated her earrings to the monastery.
In conclusion I enjoyed this movie a lot. In my opinion the plot was well organized and played out well too. The character, though not played by professionals, they were very realistic. I also learned about the Mistreatment of Tibetans by the Chinese, for example the starvation, isolation, and no justice. I also recommend this film because not only it teaches us about the situation in Tibet, but ties in Religion and Sports to hook all sorts of people.
Delightful on many levels (Rating: 4.00)
Review : This is a charming film, filled with humor and enticing glimpses into the way of life in a modern Buddhist monastery, and how the old and new schools are melding. Granted, the child monk Orgyen is annoyingly snotty, but I have a feeling he may have been very much like that in real life (the film is supposedly based on a true story). Most of the time, my attention was riveted on the "action" and the people, but try to pay attention to the cinematography as well. The images and colors are at once vivid and dreamlike. I highly recommend this film!
Religious Conviction Meets World Cup Fever (Rating: 4.00)
Review : Gentle comedy from Bhutan about a young Buddhist monk, Orgyen (Jamyang Lodro), who is obsessed with soccer. He shares his enthusiasm with his fellow monks, but tries to keep it a secret from Geko (Orgyen Tobgyal, Jamyang's father) and the Abbot (Lama Chonjor). When Geko discovers that Orgyen and pals have been sneaking out nights to watch the 1998 World Cup games in town, they're duly punished. But a truce is eventually established between the soccer-loving monks and their protectors. Written, directed by and starring Buddhist monks, the film is set in an actual Tibetan monastery-in-exile.
The Cup - a great treat for the soul. (Rating: 5.00)
Review : The Cup is based on the true story of a group of young Buddhist monks obsessed with soccer. The film focuses on their struggle to watch the World Cup soccer matches on TV, trying not to get caught by the older monks, who seem not to understand the youngsters fascination with the senseless game. The film beautifully combines great humor, and important life lessons. It contains many memorable scenes, such as the one of the young monk, sporting a green under-shirt with Rolando's name and team number. The only regreat I have about this film, is that it was on limited release. This is a great film for all movie lovers, and why not, I think soccer fans will enjoy it as well. It does have some great scenes of the young monks playing soccer with a coke can.
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