Kundun (1997)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Martin Scorsese

Writer (WGA):

Melissa Mathison (written by)

Release Date:

25 December 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Tagline:

The destiny of a people lies in the heart of a boy.

Plot:

From childhood until adulthood, Tibet's 14th dalai lama deals with Chinese oppression and other problems.

Plot Keywords:

Tibet | Lama | Dalai Lama | Chinese | Escape

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

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

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violent images.

Runtime:

134 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Tibetan | Mandarin

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

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:

Ait Benhaddou, Ouarzazate, Morocco

Company:

De Fina-Cappa

Trivia:

The Dalai Lama and his family were portrayed by actual relatives of the Dalai Lama himself, now living in refugee in Dalamsala as well as abroad. Tenzin Thuthob Tsarong who played the adult Dalai Lama is his grand nephew.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Some of the Chinese soldiers with goggles that go marching by are obviously Caucasian.

Quotes:

Dalai Lama: Just like a dream experience, whatever things I enjoy will become a memory. Whatever is past will not be seen again.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing (2004)

incredibly beautiful movie

I rented Kundun to further my quest to see all the Scorsese movies I can. I never expected such an incredible movie. I didn't want this movie to end. It's really difficult to describe how I feel about this movie since I have only viewed it once and was completely blown away, it left me in complete awe.

Like most when I first started watching Scorsese I thought that he did brilliant gangster films and that was his thing, but I have recently discovered that this couldn't be further from the truth. Fist seeing The Last Temptation of Christ and now Kundun I wouldn't care if Scorsese ever made another gangster film. It is easy to see that he is an artistic genius, the acting in the film was great, but I could have watched it on mute and still have been amazed.

If, like I was, you are unfamiliar with the Buddhist religion and the Chinese takeover of Tibet this film has even more to offer. Scorsese's risk of using real Buddhists to do all of the acting payed off better than I ever expected it would, the fact that we are hearing the story through the people it affected adds another level to this movie.

I cannot believe that this film only has a rating of 7 on this site. If you are a fan of Scorsese and are not sure you are going to like this just give it a chance, it deserves at least one viewing, if you give it that I am sure you will be amazed as I was. Scorsese's vision's in this movie are unlike any of his films, not to mention a great score by Phillip Glass.