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Kundun

  • 1997
  • PG-13
  • 2h 14m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
29K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,980
3,498
Kundun (1997)
Watch Trailer [OV]
Play trailer1:16
1 Video
51 Photos
BiographyDramaHistory

From childhood to adulthood, Tibet's fourteenth Dalai Lama deals with Chinese oppression and other problems.From childhood to adulthood, Tibet's fourteenth Dalai Lama deals with Chinese oppression and other problems.From childhood to adulthood, Tibet's fourteenth Dalai Lama deals with Chinese oppression and other problems.

  • Director
    • Martin Scorsese
  • Writer
    • Melissa Mathison
  • Stars
    • Tenzin Thuthob Tsarong
    • Gyurme Tethong
    • Tulku Jamyang Kunga Tenzin
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    29K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    4,980
    3,498
    • Director
      • Martin Scorsese
    • Writer
      • Melissa Mathison
    • Stars
      • Tenzin Thuthob Tsarong
      • Gyurme Tethong
      • Tulku Jamyang Kunga Tenzin
    • 143User reviews
    • 77Critic reviews
    • 74Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 4 Oscars
      • 7 wins & 13 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer [OV]
    Trailer 1:16
    Watch Trailer [OV]

    Photos51

    Tulku Jamyang Kunga Tenzin in Kundun (1997)
    Tenzin Thuthob Tsarong in Kundun (1997)
    Gyurme Tethong in Kundun (1997)
    Tulku Jamyang Kunga Tenzin in Kundun (1997)
    Kundun (1997)
    Kundun (1997)
    Kundun (1997)
    Kundun (1997)
    Kundun (1997)
    Kundun (1997)
    Kundun (1997)
    Kundun (1997)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Tenzin Thuthob Tsarong
    Tenzin Thuthob Tsarong
    • Dalai Lama (Adult)
    Gyurme Tethong
    Gyurme Tethong
    • Dalai Lama (Age 12)
    Tulku Jamyang Kunga Tenzin
    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 Rinpoche
    Gyatso Lukhang
    • Lord Chamberlain
    Lobsang Samten
    • Master of the Kitchen
    Jigme Tsarong
    • Taktra Rimpoche
    • (as Tsewang Jigme Tsarong)
    Tenzin Trinley
    • Ling Rimpoche
    Namgay Dorjee
    • Kashag
    • (as Ngawang Dorjee)
    • …
    Phintso Thonden
    • Kashag…
    Chewang Tsering Ngokhang
    • Layman #1
    • Director
      • Martin Scorsese
    • Writer
      • Melissa Mathison
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    The Movies of Martin Scorsese

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    Production art
    Photos

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Director Martin Scorsese, writer Melissa Mathison and her then husband Harrison Ford were added to the list of over 50 people banned from entering Tibet because of this film.
    • Goofs
      For narrative purposes, the timeline is compressed. The Chinese invasion occurred in 1950; the Dalai Lama visited Chairman Mao in Beijing in 1954; and he ultimately fled Tibet in 1959.
    • 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.

    • Crazy credits
      The Touchstone Pictures logo shown after the end credits is red.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Tomorrow Never Dies/Mousehunt/As Good as it Gets/Kundun/Oscar and Lucinda (1997)

    User reviews143

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    unbearably spiritual movie
    I live in South Korea, so I didn't think I would get some insights about buddhism from a Western movie. But this movie shocked me a lot. Very beautiful and meaningful visuals, quiet but spiritually forceful atmosphere every single moments are in the movie, I could hardly breath during playing. This movie is not just about one man, but about the pain of all mankind and the way to transcend the pain and sin of ours in a very buddhist direction. China in this movie got a bad part. Ironically they were also victims of imperialism but learned the exact way to extort, destroy the property and beliefs of others by the power of machines. It was just sad to watch. But as Kundun implied, those violence's are in the shadow of our minds which should be overcame by the power of spirit. For me, this movie tells that.
    helpful•46
    4
    • kys079
    • Dec 13, 2004

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 16, 1998 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Monaco
      • Morocco
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Tibetan
      • Mandarin
    • Also known as
      • 達賴的一生
    • Filming locations
      • Atlas Mountains, Morocco
    • Production companies
      • Touchstone Pictures
      • De Fina-Cappa
      • Dune Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $28,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $5,684,789
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $72,095
      • Dec 28, 1997
    • Gross worldwide
      • $5,684,789
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 14 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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