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Passion suffuses every moment of
Mystic Ball, an uplifting documentary about one man's physical
and spiritual quest. The film resists easy categorization - it's
simultaneously a thrilling sports movie, an insightful journey to
a new world, and a lyrical personal story.
Mystic Ball follows Greg
Hamilton, the filmmaker, deep into the ancient and little-known
culture of Myanmar and its traditional sport, chinlone. Like the
film, chinlone is hard to define. It's a team sport without an opposing
team, part dance, part meditation. There is no competition, no winners
and no losers. The game is back-breakingly difficult, yet is played
by almost all Burmese, from young children to octogenarians.
The film follows Greg's transformation
from outsider obsessed with learning chinlone to accomplished teammate
of the masters of the game. But sport is only one aspect of his
journey. Through chinlone, Greg discovers things he didn't even
know he was looking for: family, community and love.
Mystic Ball's stunning cinematography
and inspiring story will give you a sense of the mystical, and encourage
a closer look at your own journey.
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