The Cup

Fresh from a warm reception at Sundance, this charming tale of the ancient world crashing into the modern one offers an offbeat glimpse into Tibetan monastic life. Inspired by true events, Khyentse Norbu's film is refreshingly matter-of-fact, making recent filmic forays into Tibet seem ersatz and tacky by comparison. Two boys arrive for study in an exiled Northern India monastery, escorted by their uncle, whose sister wants a better life for her sons. Palden and Nyima brave armed Nepalese border guards and other terrors to escape the poverty and tyranny of their native land, and are immediately engulfed in the life of the acolyte. Heads shaved, saffron robes donned, their daily prayers, lessons, and chores are a radical departure from shepherding in the steppes. But an even stranger cognitive dissonance arises: several of the young monks are soccer fans, and as the World Cup final approaches, a Zen sort of mayhem ensues. The top priority: procurement of a satellite dish and a television in time for the big match. Viewers interested in Tibetan culture will love the lushly photographed rituals, temple decor, and landscapes. The Cup eschews heavy-handed politics in favor of feel-good anachronism and the sweet tempos of life lived simply. At the Avon.
-- Peg Aloi