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Kundun (1997)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writer (WGA):
Melissa Mathison (written by)
Release Date:
25 December 1997 (USA)
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Tagline:
The destiny of a people lies in the heart of a boy. more
Plot:
From childhood until adulthood, Tibet's 14th dalai lama deals with Chinese oppression and other problems. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 4 Oscars.
Another 5 wins
&
4 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(24 articles)
Happy Birthday, Martin Scorsese: Wake-Up Video
(From MTV Newsroom. 17 November 2009, 7:00 AM, PST)
Scorsese to Receive Honorary Golden Globe
(From ReelzChannel. 13 November 2009, 1:21 PM, PST)
(From MTV Newsroom. 17 November 2009, 7:00 AM, PST)
Scorsese to Receive Honorary Golden Globe
(From ReelzChannel. 13 November 2009, 1:21 PM, PST)
User Comments:
Scorsese's most under-appreciated film?
more (107 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Tenzin Thuthob Tsarong | ... | Dalai Lama (Adult) |
| Gyurme Tethong | ... | Dalai Lama (Age 12) |
| Tulku Jamyang Kunga Tenzin | ... | Dalai Lama (Age 5) |
| Tenzin Yeshi Paichang | ... | Dalai Lama (Aged 2) |
| Tencho Gyalpo | ... | Mother |
| Tenzin Topjar | ... | Lobsang (5-10) |
| Tsewang Migyur Khangsar | ... | Father |
| Tenzin Lodoe | ... | Takster |
| Geshi Yeshi Gyatso | ... | Lama of Sera |
| Losang Gyatso | ... | The Messenger (as Lobsang Gyatso) |
| Sonam Phuntsok | ... | Reting Rimpoche |
| Gyatso Lukhang | ... | Lord Chamberlain |
| Lobsang Samten | ... | Master of the Kitchen |
| Jigme Tsarong | ... | Taktra Rimpoche (as Tsewang Jigme Tsarong) |
| Tenzin Trinley | ... | Ling Rimpoche |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for violent images.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
134 min
Country:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Iceland:12 |
Hungary:14 |
Canada:PG (Ontario) |
USA:PG-13 (certificate #35670) |
Norway:11 |
Brazil:12 |
Australia:PG |
Finland:K-12 |
France:U |
Germany:6 |
Portugal:M/12 |
Singapore:PG |
Sweden:11 |
Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) |
Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) |
UK:12 |
South Korea:12
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Martin Scorsese dedicated this film to his mother Catherine Scorsese who had died during the pre-production of this film, because "the Dalai Lama represents unconditional love, and to me my mother was the closest person with that kind of love".
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Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: Some of the Chinese soldiers with goggles that go marching by are obviously Caucasian.
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Quotes:
Indian:
Are you the Lord Buddha?
Dalai Lama: I believe I am a reflection, like the moon on water. When you see me, and I try to be a good man, you see yourself.
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Dalai Lama: I believe I am a reflection, like the moon on water. When you see me, and I try to be a good man, you see yourself.
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Movie Connections:
Featured in The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing (2004)
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (107 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Kundun (1997)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
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| this movie was the FAIL! | yongke_yu |
| kundun/ 7 years in tibet | rynlrntT |
| Tiber | SickBoyo |
| symbolism? | tekia412 |
| English | alexander12061978 |
| Fast edits | pirate266 |
Recommendations
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I was rendered speechless by KUNDUN when I first saw it, and subsequent viewing have only confirmed my impression that this is one of Scorsese's finest films. Yeah - it's slow and elegant. So what.
I've long held an admittedly superficial interest in Buddhism, and also been a fan of Scorsese, liking most of his films quite a bit, so I went into this with some biases, but with every viewing this seems like a richer film. I also think that Scorsese was in some ways far more at home with this material than he was given credit for being. The cinematography and performances are excellent - the cast of mostly non-actors is surprisingly good, and much of KUNDUN is staggeringly beautiful to watch.
It has also struck me that this film isn't as much of a departure for Scorsese as it first may seem - this film works well as something of a companion to LAST TEMPTATION OF Christ in that both pictures examine great faiths through spiritual figures in a way that personalizes the divine. This simply literalizes undercurrents running through a number of Scorsese's other films, which often turn on themes of loyalty, conviction and ethics (like the self-assurance, against massive obstacles, shown by Alice Hyatt in ALICE DOESN'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE). All evidence a worldview where some form of redemption or transcendance is possible. In their own ways, several memorable Scorsese characters - Sam Rothstein (CASINO), Henry Hill (GOODFELLAS), Rupert Pupkin (KING OF COMEDY), Paul Hackett (AFTER HOURS) and Alice Hyatt attempt this, some in ways that are desperate, comically misguided or just plain wrong, but they're all human, driven by some redemptive impulse nonetheless.
The Catholicism of Scorsese's youth places great value on the importance of ritual, which is also true of Buddhism, which is depicted in a detailed and respectful fashion here, and the rhythm of KUNDUN - where the chronology of events isn't (or at least doesn't seem) forced, but are instead allowed to unfold in a more naturalistic and lifelike fashion also seems to mirror Buddhist ideas admirably.
This is a far more complex film than it first might appear to be - far from being a simple biopic, KUNDUN is much much more. Definitely one of Martin Scorsese's least appreciated films.