description The Cup Overview
The Cup is a Bhutanese comedy-movie released in 1999. It tells the story of two monks’ determined quest to obtain a television and watch the 1998 FIFA World Cup final. Directed by Khyentse Norbu, the film offers a unique perspective on globalization and cultural desire through the lens of rural Bhutan. It is notable for being one of the first feature films produced in Bhutan and appeals to viewers interested in independent cinema and stories exploring universal human aspirations within a specific cultural context.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
info The Cup Specifications
| Country | Bhutan |
| Year | 1999 |
help The Cup FAQ
Why are the monks in The Cup so determined to find a television?
The young monks want to watch France play Brazil in the 1998 FIFA World Cup final, but their Tibetan monastery in India has no television. Their increasingly elaborate plan turns a global sporting event into a test of monastic rules and youthful obsession.
Was The Cup actually made by a Buddhist lama?
Yes. The 1999 film was written and directed by Khyentse Norbu, a Bhutanese lama also known as Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche.
Are the monastery and monks in The Cup authentic?
The film was shot at Chokling Monastery in Bir, India, and many roles were played by real monks rather than professional actors. That setting gives the comedy a documentary-like view of Tibetan monastic life in exile.
Is The Cup mainly a sports movie or a religious drama?
It uses the World Cup quest as a comic story about globalization, exile, discipline, and desire. The football match matters, but the central conflict is how television and popular culture enter a traditional Buddhist community.
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