Kundun

Plot

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

Release Year: 1997

Rating: 7.0/10 (12,904 voted)

Critic's Score: 74/100

Director:
Martin Scorsese

Stars: Tenzin Thuthob Tsarong, Gyurme Tethong, Tulku Jamyang Kunga Tenzin

Storyline
The Tibetans refer to the Dalai Lama as 'Kundun', which means 'The Presence'. He was forced to escape from his native home, Tibet, when communist China invaded and enforced an oppressive regime upon the peaceful nation of Tibet. The Dalai Lama escaped to India in 1959 and has been living in exile in Dharamsala ever since.

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

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

Release Date: 25 December 1997

Filming Locations: Ait Benhaddou, Ouarzazate, Morocco

Box Office Details

Budget: $28,000,000

(estimated)

Opening Weekend: $72,095
(USA)
(28 December 1997)
(2 Screens)

Gross: $5,532,301
(USA)
(29 March 1998)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

134 min

Did You Know?

Trivia:

This film is Martin Scorsese's first to earn a PG-13 rating from the MPAA.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes:
When Kundun is dreaming that he is surrounded by monks slaughtered by the Chinese, the "dead" monk closest to him moves his eyelids.

Quotes:

Chairman Mao:
Religion is poison.

User Review

incredibly beautiful movie

Rating: 10/10

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.