Kundun (1997)

76% of critics liked it
(58 reviews)
77% of users liked it
(10,980 ratings)

This Martin Scorsese film drama detailing the Dalai Lama's life story was in development for seven years, with the Dalai Lama having input into the 14 screenplay drafts by Melissa Mathison (The Black Stallion, E.T.). With four actors portraying the Dalai Lama at different ages, Scorsese's chronicle… More This Martin Scorsese film drama detailing the Dalai Lama's life story was in development for seven years, with the Dalai Lama having input into the 14 screenplay drafts by Melissa Mathison (The Black Stallion, E.T.). With four actors portraying the Dalai Lama at different ages, Scorsese's chronicle begins in 1933 with the death of the 13th Dalai Lama. Born in a remote area, the new Dalai Lama (seen at ages two and five in early sequences) is observed by monks who determine that he is the 14th reincarnation of the Buddha of Compassion. In 1944 the Dalai Lama uses newsreels and Western magazines to study WWII events, and as the war ends, he is forced to deal with Chinese Communist aggression. Protests from the Dalai Lama in 1949 are ignored as Mao (Robert Lin) maintains a military stranglehold on Tibet, eventually forcing the Dalai Lama to flee to Dharmsala, India. With a $28 million budget, Scorsese re-created Tibet's tragedy by filming in south-central Morocco with a cast of nonprofessional Tibetan actors. Second unit work took place at locations in Idaho and British Columbia. Avant-garde composer Philip Glass contributed a score with hypnotic, ritualistic overtones. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 2 hr. 14 min.
Directed By: Martin Scorsese
Written By: Melissa Mathison
Genres: Drama, Classics

In Theaters: Dec 25, 1997 Wide
On DVD: Oct 13, 1998
Studio: Buena Vista Internationa

Critic Reviews

David Edelstein, Slate
The music ties together all the pretty pictures, gives the narrative some momentum, and helps to induce a kind of alert detachment, so that you're neither especially interested nor especially bored.
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
Scorsese has taken the harsh mystery out of Tibetan Buddhism, and out of its oppression, too.
Emanuel Levy, Variety
Disregarding commercial considerations, Scorsese's haunting meditation on Dalai Lama's early life is a majestic spectacle of images and sounds, but it's bogged down by a routine script that fails to offer fresh insights on Tibet's non-violent culture
, Globe and Mail
A great film about a good man.
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
Careful and respectful, it is everything a movie about the Dalai Lama should be except dramatically involving.
Jeff Millar, Houston Chronicle
Kundun is ceaselessly lovely to look at. But it is also exquisitely, meticulously, intently (gulp) ... dull.
Sandra Contreras, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Vigorously directed, sensual and hypnotic, Scorsese's film is a visually extraordinary meditation on ritual, nature and humanity.
, Film4
A challenging, thought provoking, mediative film that sits uncomfortably with Scorcese's previous work is helped no end by a superb score by Philip Glass.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Scorsese's rich tableau of image and music bears a potent emotional weight.
Sean Axmaker, Turner Classic Movies Online
Kundun is surely the most gentle and meditative of Scorsese's films, a placid biography with the scope of an epic, the quality of a storybook, and the dramatic stakes of a tragedy.
Ryan Cracknell, Movie Views
There's no denying the artistry of Kundun. Its heart also appears to be in the right place. But for those like me who don't have a versed history in the modern history of Tibet or Buddhism, the scope is ultimately too big.
, Time Out
Urged on by Philip Glass's throbbing, blaring score, the director conjures a phenomenal, trance-like climax, owing more to dreams, second sight and the mind's eye than conventional dramatic rhetoric.
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
Martin Scorcese has made a meditative, low key historical drama about a truly mystical figure of our modern history, departing from his usual, violence-prone flicks.
Judith Egerton, Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)
Scorsese skillfully indulges his propensity for obsessive detail. Visually, the direction is varied and exhilarating
Carlo Cavagna, AboutFilm.com
Though a meditative, introspective film, Scorsese's distinctive techniques cause Kundun to pulse with life under its calm surface.
John R. McEwen, Film Quips Online
All in all, Kundun is beautifully produced and honestly acted.
Ron Wells, Film Threat
Scorcese has made one of his best and most personal films.
Margaret A. McGurk, Cincinnati Enquirer
Kundun is original, moving, inspiring -- and one of the best movies of the year.
John A. Nesbit, Old School Reviews
'Filmed with the approval of the 14th Dalai Lama himself, Kundun is reverential to a fault...and that fault is the film's biggest weakness.'
Joseph McBride, Boxoffice Magazine
Kundun is both a stunning visual feast and a moving meditation on the difficulty of sustaining the Buddhist principle of nonviolence in a brutal world.

Read all 20 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Daniel P

The cover of Kundun makes you think "kids movie," until you see who directed it: Scorsese. No one gets whacked, and the film is nearly bloodless, (compared to, say, Goodfellas), but if it wouldn't horrify a child, it would certainly bore one, as it's basically a… More
The cover of Kundun makes you think "kids movie," until you see who directed it: Scorsese. No one gets whacked, and the film is nearly bloodless, (compared to, say, Goodfellas), but if it wouldn't horrify a child, it would certainly bore one, as it's basically a biopic. This may, in fact, be the one time we could accuse Scorsese of Oscar-baiting: Tibet was a hot issue in the mid-90s, and you know how much the Academy likes this kind of story (see: Gandhi), and it's almost purgatorial of him, after Casino, to turn his attention to this paragon of non-violence - as he did with Jesus, too, come to think of it. Scorsese's fascination with violence makes this - and Last Temptation of Christ - a strange choice, but then again, violence can be equally fascinating in its absence. A lot went right, but Kundun will forever be lumped with Last Temptation in the "departures" section of Scorsese's career. As concerns the film itself, it opens rather dully, with a strangely ominous Tibetan drum track appearing almost too often, but eventually it wraps its loving arms around you and shares excellent cinematography, insights from afar, and wonderfully unfamiliar music (by Phillip Glass). The powerful way in which the music drives the film almost makes up for a plot - discovery of the Dalai Lama, his coming of age, confrontation with Mao and his exile in India - that's somewhat rote, and for wooden acting across the board (language barrier, perhaps?). In all, it's not Scorsese's best work, but to dismiss it is to overlook some of the aspects of his films that - as the Academy recognized, with Hugo - are among the best in the industry: costuming, music, sound, cinematography, makeup... all things you can't really be the best at without having the Best Director, but I digress. Kundun is unorthodox, but if you let it, it can carry you away.
danny d

more than any of scorsese's films, kundun shows his remarkable range as a story teller. the film struggled to draw in real emotion at points and reverence shown to the dalai lama went too far in missing an opportunity to show his flaws, but just about every other element of this… More
more than any of scorsese's films, kundun shows his remarkable range as a story teller. the film struggled to draw in real emotion at points and reverence shown to the dalai lama went too far in missing an opportunity to show his flaws, but just about every other element of this film was nearly perfect. deakins cinematography was astounding, some of the best of his already mind blowing career, and the landscapes, costumes, and acting performances were all excellent. when this film is set against scorsese's gangster films as a contrast, you can really see the difference between the hate and sin of those characters and the humility and spirituality of these ones. a stunning film.
Lady D

A film I have been wanting to see for quite some time, purely on a spiritual level and because I have an attraction toward Tibet. I feel I have learned a few things from this film, but at the same time I found it a little boring - which was a little disappointing. The film,… More
A film I have been wanting to see for quite some time, purely on a spiritual level and because I have an attraction toward Tibet. I feel I have learned a few things from this film, but at the same time I found it a little boring - which was a little disappointing. The film, directed by Scorsese, was made well and I'm sure resembled the facts as a true story, it just wasn't as insightful as I had hoped it would be.
Ken S

Scorsese's amazing film about the life of the 14th Dalai Lama is something to behold.<br/><br/>Schoonmaker's editing and Deakins's cinematography bring exquisite beauty to this stunning pieces of cinema
Tim S

It was just cool to see and the movie looks amazing.
Mister C

In all of Martin Scorsese's films,this was the lowpoint of his career and "Kundun" shows this in detail.
xGary X

A departure form Scorceses usual territory, but it's lavishly photographed, and makes fo a fascinating insight into the politics and culture of Tibet and it's people.
Brandon K

Fantastic. The beginning where it deals with a child being anointed as a leader so young was what won me over and the rest of the way it kept me interested. Once again proves my theory that Scorsese is a better director than Michael Bay.
Dimitris S

Un-Scorsese film and yet so devoted to his spiritual subject and embrace.Enlightening progress,lovely images and the most beautiful in the clear sense of the term film by that great and unpredictable U.S. filmmaker.Will the East influence more of his later work?
Leo L

Absolute favorite of mine! Great!

Read all 10 featured audience ratings

Cast

Tenzin Thuthob Tsarong
as Dalai Lama (adult)
Gyurme Tethong
as Dalai Lama (age 12)
Tulku Jamyang Kunga Tenzin
as Dalai Lama (age 5)

Tenzin Yeshi Paichang
as Dalai Lama (age 2)
Tencho Gyalpo
as Mother
Tsewang Migyur Khangsar
as Father

See full cast

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