The Cup

Updated June 26, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

The Cup is unlikely as it is unassuming. The first movie filmed in Bhutan, and the first movie created by a Tibetan lama, it also manages to be a warm coming-of-age tale with intelligent takes on traditionalism, consumerism, and China's occupation of Tibet.

Filmed at a monastery with a cast of monks, The Cup follows two young boys who love soccer. The World Cup in particular, which they are plotting to see in the television-free monastery. The film avoids silly dichotomies like old versus new, and thus offers an interesting look at Bhutanese and Tibetan culture.