About the Film

Director's Statement

I made this film because I have a great desire, a need to share chinlone. I think the world needs a sport that is truly playful and happy. The urge to play is one of the most beautiful aspects of humans. But most sports are not playful, competition often creates an obsession with winning that takes much of the fun away. Almost everyday there seems to be a new way for humans to compete against each other. Whether it is competitive cooking, eating, dating, singing or dancing, there is a growing obsession to see who can beat who at almost anything. I don't think it is healthy.

Chinlone is a different paradigm, a different way of playing a game. The goal in chinlone is to create beauty and become one as a team. Though it is not competitive in the usual sense of "us against them", to play chinlone well is astoundingly difficult. Rather than creating more competition, chinlone celebrates the spirit of cooperation.

I hope this film will bring respect and recognition to this unknown art, and that viewers will admire the extraordinary skills and devotion of the chinlone players. I also hope that many people will be inspired to play chinlone.

Chinlone has become a path and inspiration for me. It reminds me of what is important in my life. I want to be a good supporter of my friends, lover and family. I want to be playful. I want to share my best and help others to do the same. I want to be open and good hearted toward strangers. I want to feel that I am part of something larger than myself. I want to connect with other people, not defeat them or be the winner.

I believe that I'm doing a kind of magic when I play. I think it's incredible that I'm playing this ball on top of another ball that is spinning and orbiting around other balls in space. And the force that keeps all those balls in orbit is the same force that connects me to the chinlone ball.

At the premiere of Mystic Ball, a young boy asked me "Why is it mystic?" What a great question! I told him that for me, chinlone was like a shadow of something else, and that something else is still a mystery.

Greg Hamilton

Filmmakers

Greg Hamilton

A lifelong student of Asian culture, Greg Hamilton is the leading foreign authority on chinlone, the national sport of Myanmar, and the first foreigner to play the game at the highest level. Greg has practiced and taught martial arts, and created games and workshops to enhance balance, awareness, and agility. Greg has designed jewelry, textiles, and ran a very popular annual art festival in Toronto. He is also a gifted musician, who arranged and produced the original music for Mystic Ball.

Originally from Canada, he has traveled extensively, and has lived, worked, studied, and performed in Indonesia, Thailand, Sudan, Japan, and Myanmar. Greg has made 18 trips to Myanmar. He is in the process of organizing the first ever chinlone world tour.

Mystic Ball is his first film.

Matthew London

Matthew London has been working in the visual arts much of his life. Among his creations is the award-winning interactive multimedia CD-ROM, American Visions: 20th Century Art from the Roy R. Neuberger Collection.

From the US, Matthew has been interested in Asian culture since he was 10, and has lived in Japan, Indonesia and Thailand and traveled extensively in the region. Matthew studied photography at the San Francisco Art Institute and documentary filmmaking at the International Film and Television Workshops in Rockport, Maine.

In 1986, he was introduced to chinlone by his friend, the director Greg Hamilton. He has made eight trips to Myanmar.

Mystic Ball is his first film.

Featured Players

Su Su Hlaing

One of the most famous of Burmese women, Su Su Hlaing is the greatest solo performer of chinlone.

Su Su is in great demand across Myanmar, performing a solo style of chinlone known as tapandaing — at Buddhist festivals, VIP events, etc. She has also performed extensively in Thailand and Singapore and is a star performer on the Road To Mandalay steamer, a famous British luxury vessel which cruises the Ayeyarwady river.

A talked-about performer since age nine, she has devoted her life to the physical and meditational rigours of her ancient artform, which involves keeping a specialized rattan ball aloft via a series of highly-stylized kicks. Su Su supports her family through her performances which has enabled her to send her younger sisters and brother to school and university. She plays both styles of chinlone — team style and solo style, and is recognized as the top solo performer in the country. She has a degree in Zoology and was married last year in Myanmar.

Su Su and Greg met in 1998, over the next few years they became good friends. Greg is also close with her family. In 2000, Su Su invited Greg to play with her team in the biggest chinlone event of the year, the Waso Festival. Su Su is a featured performer in Greg's chinlone world tour.

Ko Maung Maung

Known throughout Myanmar as a top coach and excellent player. Ko Maung Maung's specialty is mandala, one of the most difficult moves. He was known as "Mandala Maung Maung" when he was younger because of how beautifully he did this move. He is one of the best supporters in the game and can make any player look good as a soloist.

His son Aung Soe Moe, is considered the best player in the country. He was coached from a very young age by Ko Maung Maung and his skill is extraordinary. He has two other sons who also play chinlone, one is playing for the Customs team at a very high level.

Greg first met Ko Maung Maung in 1998 but they did not start to spend time together until 2001. Under Ko Maung Maung's coaching, Greg has been able to learn the game from the basics up to the more complex moves. They are now close friends and Ko Maung Maung is one of the featured players in Greg's chinlone world tour.

Aung Soe Moe

Aung Soe Moe is the top player in the country. An extraordinarily gifted player, he makes even the most difficult moves look easy. One of the things people love about his playing style is how happy he looks as he plays and how effortless he pulls off extraordinary moves.

Aung Soe Moe and Greg met in 1997 and became friends over the next few years. They have played together in a number of festivals and for 3 years in the Waso festival. Aung Soe Moe is one of the featured players in Greg's chinlone world tour.

Motta

Motta is one of the top players and famous throughout the country. He is an extremely agile player, whose specialties include ground style play and some of the most acrobatic moves. Originally a student of Ko Maung Maung and longtime team mate of Aung Soe Moe.

Motta and Greg met in 1998 and soon became close friends. Motta is one of the featured players in the chinlone world tour.

Credits

Director	Greg Hamilton
Producers	Matthew London & Greg Hamilton
Narration	Greg Hamilton
Editor	Mary Manhardt
Cinematographers	Jeremy Pollard Alex Morrison Matthew London Aung Ko Latt Wolfgang Held Dyanna Taylor Emiko Omori John Marsonet
Sound Engineer	Sean O'Neil
Sound Editor	Paul Hsu
Composer	Ismet Ruchimat and Others
Motion Graphics	Zachary Bennett
Production Manager	Suzan Mah

Production Notes

About Myanmar

Myanmar (Burma) is the largest country (in geographical area) in mainland Southeast Asia. It is bordered by the People's Republic of China on the north, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, and India on the northwest, with the Andaman Sea to the south, and the Bay of Bengal to the southwest.

What About Politics?

Sometimes people ask me why I did not address politics in the film. There are a few reasons. This film is not about politics, it's about culture. Chinlone was around long before the current government in Myanmar and will last long after it is gone. The only time we hear about Myanmar in the news is for its politics. I think this is basically unfair and unfortunate. A country or culture should not be reduced to being seen through such a narrow perspective. The culture and people of Myanmar deserve a more balanced understanding.