The Cup

Buddhism is their philosophy. Soccer is their religion.

While the soccer World Cup is being played in France, two young Tibetan refugees arrive at a monastery/boarding school in exile in India. Its atmosphere of serene contemplation is somewhat disrupted by soccer fever, the chief instigator being a young student, the soccer enthusiast Orgyen.

Prevented by various circumstances from seeing the Cup finals on television in a nearby village, Orgyen sets out to organize the rental of a TV set for the monastery. The enterprise becomes a test of solidarity, resourcefulness and friendship for the students, while the Lama, head of the monastery, contemplates the challenges of teaching the word of Buddha in a rapidly changing world.

Critic Reviews:

• " A delightful demonstration of how spirituality can coexist quite happily with an intense desire for France to defeat Brazil. " – Roger Ebert

• " A lovely, delightful, and quiet movie that's easy to swallow and doesn't disrupt the patterns of the world. " – Jeffrey M. Anderson