GRAND PRIX COMPETITION

U.S. PREMIERE

MYSTIC BALL

Canada/USA, 2006, 83 min., English, Burmese

Director: Greg Hamilton
Producer: Matthew London & Greg Hamilton
Cinematography: Jeremy Pollard and Others
Editing: Mary Manhardt
Music: Sambasunda and Others
Sound: Sean O’Neil
Production company: Black Rice Productions
Print Source:
Black Rice Productions
Matthew London
795 Fifth Ave. Suite 1007
New York, NY 10021, USA
Tel.: 212.591.1050
Fax: 212.591.6029
e-mail: mysticball@blackrice.com
www.mysticball-themovie.com


Mystic Ball

What would drive a man to devote his life to a sport that no one else plays? Equal parts sports movie and lyrical biography, Mystic Ball tells the story of one man’s passionate obsession with a little-known sport, chinlone. Deeply rooted in Myanmar – still known as Burma - culture and tradition, chinlone is a bit reminiscent of soccer – if you cut out all the running and scorekeeping and focused only on ball-handling skills, that is. On the surface, chinlone is a game of skill where players walk around in a circle and juggle a “cane ball” with stylized, highly acrobatic, dance-inspired moves. But as the film so elegantly shows, this unassuming ball game is so much more than that – chinlone has meditative and communal aspects that makes it a favorite pastime from young children to octogenarians despite it’s back-breaking difficulty. Beautifully shot, this touching and intimate film follows not only Hamilton’s transformation from curious outsider to accomplished chilone master, it also subtly, yet sweetly chronicles his search for family, community and love.

Greg Hamilton was born in Canada. A lifelong student of Asian culture, he is leading foreign authority on chinlone, the national sport of Myamar, and the first foreiginer to play the game at the highest level. Greg has practiced and taught martial arts, and created games and workshops to enhance balance, awarness, and agility. He has traveled extensively, and lived, worked, studied, and performed in Indonesia, Thailand, Sudan, Japan, and Myanmar. Currently based in Toronto, he is in the process of organizing the first-ever chinlone world tour.

Filmography:

Mystic Ball (2006), directing debut.

SUNDAY, APRIL 1 AT 8:00 PM./GALLERY THEATRE

MONDAY, APRIL 2 AT 6:30 PM./CHOPIN THEATRE

THURSDAY, APRIL 5 AT 7:00 PM./BEVERLY ARTS CENTER